The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dumebi Kachikwu, has emerged the party’s 2027 presidential candidate for the faction led by Alhaji Abdulkkadir Mohammed Bashir.

At a national convention held in Abuja on Sunday, the Electoral Committee Chairman and Benue State party chairman, Elias Adikwu, announced Kachikwu’s adoption, which was ratified by delegates.

Bashir, who was newly elected as the party’s national Chairman, presented Kachikwu with the party’s flag, a symbol of his mandate to deliver the party in the forthcoming election.

At the convention, alongside Bashir, other new members of the National Working Committee, NWC, were elected.

Speaking after his adoption, Kachikwu said, “Who is the common man? He is the average citizen, as contrasted with the socio-economic or sociocultural elites.

“The common man is a title most of us will bear at some point in our lives, and for some of their lives, majority of our population bear this affiliation, and it is because of them I stand before you today to say I accept your nomination to be the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress.I thank you. 

“The realities of our existence today in Nigeria are well known to us all, and so I will not rehash the many challenges we face as a nation, not only at war, but one plague motivated problems. I’m here today to tell you that even though our leaders have navigated us to the precipice of disaster, we can still reverse it, even though they scam us with their failed promises, yet there is hope for us.

“I’m very clear that I must be in the driver’s seat to make the changes needed in Aso Villa. I understand that mourning and complaining are not enough. It’s a time to sit on this table…”

DAILY POST reports that there are three factions of the African Democratic Congress.

The faction led by former Senate president, David Mark; the faction led by former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe and the now the one led by Bashir.

Engr Kale Kawu, Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State, on Sunday accepted the mandate to contest the 2027 general elections with a pledge not to betray the confidence and trust reposed in him.

Speaking after being declared formally as the consensus candidate of the party in Ilorin, Kawu, described his emergence as a collective victory for all the aspirants in the race.

“Your sacrifices, consultations, maturity and commitment to the survival and unity of our great party brought us to this defining moment 

“History will remember your patriotism, sportsmanship and loyalty to the PDP family,” he added.

“I, Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu, accept this mandate with absolute humility and a full understanding of the enormous responsibility ahead.

“I pledge before Almighty Allah and before the good people of Kwara State that I shall not betray the trust and confidence reposed in me. By the grace of God, I will dedicate myself fully to the service of our people and the progress of our dear state.

“To our teeming supporters and citizens across the length and breadth of Kwara State, from Ilorin West to Moro, from Edu to Baruten, from Offa to Ifelodun, from Kaiama to Ekiti, from Asa to Patigi, we say clearly today: the PDP has heard your cries, understood your pains, and answered your call. And by the grace of God, the PDP is coming back.”

He asserted that the party is coming back not merely for politics or power, but for purposeful leadership and people-oriented governance. 

“We are coming back to restore hope, revive infrastructure, improve education, support our farmers, empower our youths and women, strengthen healthcare delivery, create economic opportunities, and return Kwara State to the path of security, growth, dignity and prosperity,” he said.

According to Kawu, “the struggle ahead is greater than what we have passed through. The task before us is enormous. Our people desire a government that listens, a government that cares, and a government that works for everybody irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or ethnicity”.

He made a passionate appeal to all party leaders, elders, executives, aspirants, supporters, and members across every ward and local government to close ranks and move forward as one united family.

Senator Duro Faseyi, head of the party’s monitoring team, who announced the results of the party primary election across the 16 local government areas of the state, said Engr Kale Kawu scored 98,998 votes to beat Ladi Hassan who got 2,125 votes.

Activist and senatorial aspirant for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Aisha Yesufu, has rejected the notion that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike would significantly influence her political aspirations, emphasizing that her primary goal is to obtain the people’s mandate rather than engage with political appointees.

Yesufu, previously affiliated with the African Democratic Congress, ADC, made these remarks during an interview on Sunday Politics.

She stated that her foremost objective is to secure the senatorial ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

She said, “There are some people who have said they are going to take over Abuja and all of that. We want to give people a viable option that they can be proud of and passionate about.

“I don’t have a Wike to contend with because that’s an appointee. I’m not in the business of appointments. I’m in the business of looking for the mandate of the people. Wike is an appointee; I have no business with appointees.”

The activist urged Abuja residents and members of the NDC to support her during the party primaries, stressing that public popularity alone would not guarantee victory without active participation from supporters.

“Yes, people may assume I already have it, but that is not enough. I need people to come out and vote during the primaries,” she added.

Yesufu indicated that she would commence engaging with other candidates in the race only after she has emerged as the party’s flagbearer.

She cited current FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe and former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda as individuals she would address following the securing of her ticket.

The activist also disclosed that she has finalized consultations and screening processes in preparation for the election, conveying her confidence that she would introduce “a breath of fresh air” to politics and maintain accountability to her constituents if elected.

Regarding the internal crisis affecting the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Yesufu characterized the situation as “heartbreaking” and detrimental to Nigeria’s democracy, emphasizing that robust political parties are crucial for national advancement.

The competition for the FCT Senatorial seat in the lead-up to the 2027 elections is developing around three primary contenders: incumbent Senator Kingibe, former Senator Philip Aduda, and Yesufu, should she secure her party’s nomination.

Kingibe obtained the ADC ticket following a decisive primary victory, while Aduda has been nominated as the APC candidate.

Nevertheless, there are ongoing concerns regarding the significant political influence of Wike in the senatorial district, particularly in light of his engagement in local politics and the recent FCT council elections.