Screening rescheduled amid fierce internal wrangling over Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen candidacy ahead of 2027 race

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, and former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, to lead key committees for its presidential primaries, as internal divisions over a consensus candidate continue to stall the process.

In a statement issued Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, Imoke was named Chairman of the Presidential Screening Committee, while Ahmed will head the Presidential Election Committee for the primaries scheduled for May 25, 2026.

The move comes as tensions escalate within the opposition party, with leading aspirants — former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen — locked in a deadlock over the party’s push for a consensus flagbearer.

The crisis has already disrupted the primary timetable. The ADC was forced to postpone its presidential screening exercise from Monday to Wednesday following disagreements among stakeholders, according to party sources. Ongoing consultations have yet to produce a unified candidate, raising concerns about the party’s readiness to mount a strong challenge against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

“The ADC presidential screening exercise has been shifted… consultations are still ongoing,” a source familiar with the process disclosed, confirming the lack of agreement among key contenders.

To steer the process, the party unveiled a multi-layered committee structure. Hon. C.I.D. Maduabum will serve as Secretary of the Presidential Screening Committee, alongside members including Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, Hon. Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Prof. David Salifu, and Col. Abubakar Ali Ciroma.

The Presidential Election Committee chaired by Ahmed has Prof. Yisa Gana as Secretary, with a lineup that includes Maj.-Gen. Adamu Jalingo, Dr. Auwalu Anwar, Chief Emenike Ikechi, Dr. Macaulay Iyare, Tajudeen Bakare, Elder Ubolo Itodo Okpanachi, Zainab Buba Galadima, Uzoamaka Onyeama, and Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Inuwa Idris.

An appeals mechanism has also been put in place, with Dr. Suleiman Usman (SAN) heading the Presidential Appeals Committee, supported by Barrister Ken Imasuagbon as Secretary and Barrister Dare Okerade as a member.

Beyond the presidential race, the ADC constituted two governorship screening panels and corresponding appeal committees to handle disputes arising from the primaries.

The party said the committees were “carefully constituted to ensure transparency, credibility, fairness, and internal democracy,” even as internal fractures threaten to overshadow its preparations for the 2027 general elections.