The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has said it will not zone its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, opening the contest to aspirants from any part of the country.
National Chairman Yabagi Yusuf Sani announced the decision on Wednesday during the party’s first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of 2026 in Abuja.
He said discussions at the meeting focused on guidelines for primaries, ratification of congresses, and possible amendments to the party’s constitution.
Sani said the party believes leadership should be determined by competence rather than identity or regional considerations.
“Leadership selection should be based on the ability to deliver, rather than identity factors,” he said.
He dismissed criticisms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing such claims as misplaced.
“Critics of INEC are chasing shadows.
The real issue lies in structural and constitutional gaps within Nigeria’s political system,” Sani said.
He called for broader constitutional reforms, arguing that Nigeria’s political challenges stem from institutional weaknesses rather than electoral administration.
According to him, strengthening the country’s governance framework should take priority over blaming the electoral umpire.
“We need constitutional amendments to address the flaws in our institutional framework instead of always blaming INEC,” he added.
The ADP said it will release detailed guidelines for its 2027 primaries after concluding internal consultations and constitutional reviews.
Party leaders at the NEC meeting also reaffirmed plans to strengthen internal democracy and widen participation ahead of the next election cycle.
The 2027 general elections are expected to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, with parties already positioning for competitive primaries.
