Former Kaduna State governor and senior figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nasir el-Rufa’i, has announced that the party will not zone its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that all aspirants will be allowed to compete freely.
Speaking in an interview programme, el-Rufa’i said the ADC had resolved to reject zoning, consensus arrangements or forced withdrawals, stressing that credible and transparent primaries would determine its flagbearer. “We will not have zoning. We will not force anyone to step down. Everyone will be given the opportunity to contest, and whoever wins will be supported by all”, he stated.
El-Rufa’i, a chieftain of the coalition-backed opposition party, acknowledged concerns about the ADC’s low public profile but said the party was quietly building grassroots structures and finalising its internal organisation. According to him, the ADC is mobilising at polling unit and ward levels while preparing to replace its inherited leadership through congresses and conventions.
He attributed the party’s cautious media presence to limited resources and a deliberate strategy different from that of the APC in 2014, noting that the long campaign timeline under the Electoral Act favours incumbents. “We are organising, planning and strategising, and we will present Nigerians with a credible alternative and an ethical government”, he said.
On defections by opposition governors to the ruling APC, el-Rufa’i argued that governors control only one vote each and warned against overestimating state power. He maintained that popular dissatisfaction with the current administration would shape the 2027 outcome, regardless of political realignments.
The former governor also spoke strongly against proposed amendments to the Electoral Act that could weaken electronic transmission of results, describing real-time transmission from polling units as essential to curbing manipulation at collation centres. He said he supported protests by opposition figures, including Peter Obi, and expressed confidence that a National Assembly conference committee would recommend restoring the provision.
El-Rufa’i criticised the Tinubu administration’s governance style, saying ideological differences, rather than personal issues, explained his current opposition stance. He also dismissed claims of godfatherism in his relationship with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, stating that they now have “no relationship” and that he has never sought to control a successor.
Overall, el-Rufa’i said the ADC was positioning itself as a people-driven alternative ahead of 2027, predicting that the ruling party would be “surprised” by the level of grassroots support mobilised against it.
