El‑Rufai: ADC Presidential Ticket Will be Open to all
Last update: February 10, 2026
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El-Rufai reveals ADC’s presidential ticket will not be zoned...
Former Kaduna State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nasir El‑Rufai, has declared that the party’s 2027 presidential ticket will not be zoned, stressing that all aspirants will be free to contest in open primaries.
In an interview with Trust TV on the party’s election strategy, El‑Rufai highlighted that the ADC is mobilising aggressively at all levels.
Responding to questions about broadening the party’s support base amid stiff political competition, he dismissed suggestions that the ADC lacked visibility.
“No, we are mobilizing. Most of the work is being done. There is work being done on several layers. We are mobilizing very, very aggressively at the lowest levels, at the polling unit ward levels,” he said.
CBI News reports that El‑Rufai contrasted the ADC’s grassroots engagement with the struggles of some ruling party lawmakers to connect with their constituents.
“Ask members of the National Assembly from the APC if they can visit their constituencies, only a few can visit their constituencies. And when they visit, they need crash helmets, because people are angry. They are going after them. That’s why many of them cannot go home for weekends or to their constituencies,” he said.
He explained that the ADC is tapping into the dissatisfaction and anger among Nigerians to build support from the grassroots up.
On the issue of zoning, a key talking point ahead of 2027, El‑Rufai was unambiguous.
He said: “We will not have zoning. We will not have any of those things. No consensus, no forcing anyone to step down, everyone will be given the opportunity to contest and whoever wins will be supported by all.”
He added that the party is working to ensure presidential, gubernatorial, and other aspirants unite behind a platform that guarantees free and fair primaries, without imposition or coercion.
“And at the top level, we are preparing, we are on our manifesto on our platform. And we’re working on getting all our presidential aspirants, governorship aspirants and other aspirants to come together and agree to a consensus that will have free and fair primaries,” he said.
“If you don’t think that the ADC has grassroots support, ask some of the National Assembly members to go to their constituency without a garrison of soldiers and police to guard them,” he added.
