A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Nafiu Bala Gombe has unveiled its National Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.
This was just as the party named Professor Chris Uba as its presidential candidate and Dr Shamsudeen Barkindo as his running mate for the forthcoming poll.
The campaign council list also names Gombe, who heads the faction, as chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), while Professor Ahmed Jidda Balarabe was appointed director-general.
Politics Nigeria reports that the announcement comes amid a leadership dispute within the ADC, with the Gombe-led faction and the group led by David Mark laying claim to the party’s national leadership.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) currently recognises the David Mark-led leadership, while the Gombe faction has challenged the group’s takeover of the party in court.
Meanwhile, the Gombe-led faction’s campaign council list was signed by Dr Christopher O. Okechukwu, director of New Media and Publicity for the 2027 ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
Under the appointments, Chief Rufus Ikanmi was named vice-chairman of the campaign council, while Mrs Florida Gabriel and Hon. Bala Sani Kumo were appointed deputy directors-general for the South and North, respectively.
The council also features zonal coordinators for the six geopolitical zones and coordinators for states across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Other committees announced include Finance and Administration, Contact and Mobilisation, Youth Mobilisation, Women Mobilisation, Transport and Logistics, Emergency Response, and New Media and Publicity.
Hon. Bala Sani Kumo was named director of Finance and Administration, while Ikanmi will head Contact and Mobilisation.
Comrade Muhammad Saad Aboki was appointed director of Youth Mobilisation, while Christiana Jones will lead Women Mobilisation.
Professor Balarabe Shehu Mahuta was named director of Transport and Logistics, while Alhaji Umar Faruk Sokoto will head the Emergency Response Committee.
Okechukwu was also listed as director of New Media and Publicity and spokesperson for the campaign council.
The announcement follows an earlier declaration by the Gombe-led faction that it would not enter into any alliance, merger or coalition with another political party ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued earlier in October 17, the faction accused some members of the G100 Coalition and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of allegedly attempting to pressure its leadership into a political alliance.
Gombe also warned Atiku against presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate or speaking on behalf of the faction, threatening legal and political consequences over what it described as attempts to misrepresent the party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be placed on record; The African Democratic Congress is NOT, and will NOT be, in any alliance, merger, or coalition with any political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We hereby serve a firm notice to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to desist forthwith from parading himself as, or speaking on behalf of the ADC as its presidential candidate. Any further attempt to drag the name of our great party into his personal political vendetta or into actions that bring Nigeria into international ridicule will be met with appropriate legal and political consequences,” the statement read partly.
