Oriji secures the ADC governorship candidacy for Ebonyi in 2027.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ebonyi State has announced Mr. Oriji Tobias Nnabuike as the winner of its governorship primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr. Bassie Umoke, the Coordinator of Electoral Matters and State Returning Officer, declared the result shortly after the primary concluded at the party’s state office on Old Enugu Road in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Umoke reported that Nnabuike received 6,400 votes, winning the contest that was held across all 171 wards of Ebonyi State.

He added that 6,730 party members were accredited in the 13 local government areas, and 6,400 delegates ultimately took part in the voting.

According to Umoke, the election followed the national party’s directives, being conducted at the ward level and proceeding through a hierarchical collation process. Results were first transmitted to constituency collation centres, then to local government collation centres, and finally to the state collation centre for the final declaration.

He noted that the detailed procedure accounted for the time required to complete the exercise, emphasizing the party’s commitment to transparency and credibility.

The returning officer also highlighted that the ADC used an electronic membership register for the exercise to eliminate irregularities common in traditional primaries and to ensure that all figures were verifiable.

“We want to change the narrative and make Nigeria workable. What you see here is verifiable because we used an electronic register. Every registered member automatically becomes a delegate for congresses and primaries,” Umoke said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jennifer Adibe, Ebonyi State Chairman of the ADC, described the primaries as peaceful, transparent, and successful across the state.

She revealed that the party had already produced candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats ahead of the 2027 elections.

Adibe explained that some positions were filled through consensus arrangements, while others were decided by direct primaries depending on the number of aspirants.

She dismissed concerns about insecurity, noting that security agencies—including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS)—adequately monitored the primaries throughout the state.

The ADC chairman expressed optimism that the party would emerge as a formidable political force capable of challenging the dominant parties in Ebonyi during the 2027 elections.

Dr. Pascale Okafor, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Primary Election Committee, also praised party members for maintaining peace and order during the exercise.

He described the primaries as orderly, rancour‑free, and conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Princess Nneka Nnebu, Deputy National Auditor of the ADC and Secretary of the Electoral Committee in Ebonyi State, applauded the turnout of party officials and delegates, noting that no major challenges were recorded during the conduct of the primaries.