A faction of the African Democratic Congress under the leadership of Nafiu Bala Gombe has unveiled its National Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, announcing a series of appointments to oversee its campaign activities.
The faction also announced Professor Chris Uba as its presidential candidate for the forthcoming election, with Dr Shamsudeen Barkindo selected as his running mate.
Under the announced arrangement, Gombe, who leads the faction, will serve as chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), while Professor Ahmed Jidda Balarabe has been appointed director-general.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the ADC, with the Gombe-led faction and the group led by David Mark both 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.
The list of appointments for the Gombe-led faction’s campaign council was signed by Dr Christopher O. Okechukwu, director of New Media and Publicity for the 2027 ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
As part of 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’s structure also includes coordinators for Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, as well as officials assigned to coordinate activities across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Other committees established by the faction 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 appointed director of Finance and Administration, while Ikanmi was assigned to lead Contact and Mobilisation.
Comrade Muhammad Saad Aboki was named director of Youth Mobilisation, with Christiana Jones appointed to head Women Mobilisation.
Professor Balarabe Shehu Mahuta was selected as director of Transport and Logistics, while Alhaji Umar Faruk Sokoto was appointed head of the Emergency Response Committee.
Okechukwu was also named director of New Media and Publicity and spokesperson for the campaign council.
The unveiling follows an earlier announcement by the Gombe-led faction that it would not enter into an alliance, merger or coalition with any other political party ahead of the 2027 general 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 forming a political alliance.
Gombe also cautioned Atiku against presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate or speaking on behalf of the faction, warning of 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.
