THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled its governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 general elections in 28 states, including former presidential aide Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos, former Kaduna State governorship candidate Isa Ashiru and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
News Point Nigeria reports that the party also fielded former Delta State governorship candidate Great Ogboru and Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita in Katsina, as it moves to strengthen its presence across the states ahead of the 2027 polls.
The candidates were announced in a statement on Friday signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who said they would carry the ADC banner and its commitment to providing Nigerians with credible leadership and a “real alternative” in the 2027 elections.
Other notable candidates unveiled by the party include Senator Halliru Dauda Jika in Bauchi, former House of Representatives member Herman Iorwase Hembe in Benue, former House of Representatives member Zakari Mohammed in Kwara and former Nigerian Army officer, Brigadier General John Sunday Sura, in Plateau.
The party also fielded candidates in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara, bringing the total number of states covered by the announcement to 28.
In Lagos, Rhodes-Vivour will contest the governorship with Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere as his running mate, while Ashiru will fly the party’s ticket in Kaduna alongside Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku.
Ogboru is paired with Afiari Gloria in Delta, while Kaita will contest in Katsina with Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed as his running mate. In Kebbi, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, will contest alongside Zagi Musa Mohammed.
The ADC said the candidates represented its commitment to offering Nigerians an alternative ahead of the 2027 elections, with the party positioning itself as a platform for credible leadership and a “real alternative” to the established political parties.
The unveiling comes ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, with the party joining other political organisations in intensifying preparations for the polls. The 28 states listed by the ADC are among those scheduled to hold governorship elections on that date.
Governorship campaigns are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026, giving the newly unveiled candidates the opportunity to commence open campaigns and mobilise voters across their respective states.
The development also brings together a mixture of former elected officials, political figures, professionals and candidates with previous experience in governorship contests, reflecting the ADC’s attempt to broaden its political reach across the country.
Among the prominent names on the list are Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos, Ashiru in Kaduna, Ogboru in Delta, Kaita in Katsina, Malami in Kebbi, Jika in Bauchi, Hembe in Benue and Sura in Plateau.
The party’s unveiling of the candidates marks another major step in its preparations for the 2027 general elections, as the ADC seeks to present candidates across different regions and challenge the dominant political parties in the affected states.
Full List: ADC Governorship And Deputy Governorship Candidates:
Abia: Governor – Kalu Kalu Agu; Deputy Governor – Alozie Ogidimma Darlington
Adamawa: Governor – Modibbo Hammantukur Ribadu; Deputy Governor – Aguwa Kevin Iliya
Akwa Ibom: Governor – Akpanudoedehe John James; Deputy Governor – Nsien Mkpombuk Tommy
Bauchi: Governor – Sen. Halliru Dauda Jika; Deputy Governor – Sama’ila Mohammed Kabir
Benue: Governor – Rt. Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe; Deputy Governor – Abba John Abba
Borno: Governor – Babagana Buhari; Deputy Governor – Mamman Dauda
Cross River: Governor – Nkoyo Toyo; Deputy Governor – Okwoche Andrew Adagbor
Delta: Governor – Chief Great Ogboru; Deputy Governor – Afiari Gloria
Ebonyi: Governor – Ukpai Mba Udeh; Deputy Governor – Onwe Daniel Ede
Enugu: Governor – Ocho Obodoze Chukwuma; Deputy Governor – Eze Arinze Christopher
Gombe: Governor – Bala Bello; Deputy Governor – Bala Sani Isa
Jigawa: Governor – Sabo Mohammed Nakudu; Deputy Governor – Musa Ya’u Balarabe
Kaduna: Governor – Isa Mohammed Ashiru; Deputy Governor – Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku
Kano: Governor – Ibrahim Ali Amin; Deputy Governor – Shehu Abdulkadir Bari
Katsina: Governor – Sen. Ahmad Babba Kaita; Deputy Governor – Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed
Kebbi: Governor – Abubakar Malami; Deputy Governor – Zagi Musa Mohammed
Kwara: Governor – Zakari Mohammed; Deputy Governor – Olawuyi Julius Olayide
Lagos State: Governor – Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour; Deputy Governor – Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere
Nasarawa: Governor – Nuhu Angbazo; Deputy Governor – Ahmed Yusuf
Niger: Governor – Dr. Mohammed Kpautagi; Deputy Governor – Musa Mamman
Ogun: Governor – Biodun Collins Ogundipe; Deputy Governor – Muraina Oluwaranti Oluyemi
Oyo: Governor – Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke; Deputy Governor – Wahab Adeniyi
Plateau: Governor – Brig. Gen. John Sunday Sura; Deputy Governor – Pwajok-Kele Chundung Bitrus
Rivers: Governor – Gabriel Pidomson; Deputy Governor – Okumgba David Amapakaye
Sokoto: Governor – Manir Mohammad Daniya; Deputy Governor – Isah Bello Ambarura
Taraba: Governor – Abubakar Umar Tutare; Deputy Governor – Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan
Yobe: Governor – Kassim G. Gaidam; Deputy Governor – Kori Lawan Mohammed
Zamfara: Governor – Shinkafi Bilyaminu Yusuf; Deputy Governor – Muhammad Abdulmuddalib Auwal