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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has opened its presidential primary election with a mocking swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, declaring that unlike others, it would not ‘jump from 3 to 30 or from 500 to 1000’ while counting votes ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party used the commencement of its nationwide primary to portray itself as a rare example of competitive internal democracy at a time when many Nigerians believe presidential candidates are increasingly being produced through backroom deals rather than open contests.

Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primaries Election Committee, Chief Ikechi Emenike, alongside the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo, spoke on Monday in Abuja as voting commenced across the country to determine the party’s presidential candidate.

The race pits former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as well as economist and former Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Emenike said: “At a time when democratic values are increasingly being degraded within the nation’s political landscape, the ADC proudly stands out as the only political party in Nigeria presently demonstrating a genuine commitment to transparent, inclusive and democratic principles in the selection of its presidential candidate.

“Our aspirants are genuine presidential contenders, not some shadowy candidate contrived to confer legitimacy on a process where one man contested against himself.

“And as you would have seen, we know how to count properly and arithmetically. We are ADC. We will not inflate our registration numbers to deceive Nigerians. And when counting votes, we will not jump from 3 to 30 or from 500 to 1000.”

He said party members were already voting nationwide and urged them to ensure that only genuine figures were recorded during the exercise.

Meanwhile, the party spokesman, Abdullahi, insisted that the ADC remained the only party currently conducting what he described as a genuinely competitive presidential primary.

He said: “We are very proud that we are the only party conducting a real primary election in this country today. Even as we speak, none of the three aspirants can confidently tell you that he will fly the ticket of the African Democratic Congress.

“We are proud that we are giving Nigerians a truly competitive internal democratic process.”

The ADC spokesman also dismissed a rival faction that reportedly held separate congresses and announced Dumebi Kachikwu as the party’s presidential candidate.

He said: “If you go through the process with the Independent National Electoral Commission, leadership of the African Democratic Congress is not a matter for speculation. There are laid-down procedures within the organisation. There are specific processes you must go through and requirements you must meet.

“You need to submit a membership register. You need to provide details of your state officers. If you are conducting congresses, you must notify INEC and provide details across the states so the commission can monitor the process. They are expected to witness the congresses, monitor the results and supervise the entire exercise. All these processes have already started.

“So, for this issue to suddenly surface in Abuja on Sunday, we are left wondering what exactly is going on.

“This matter went up to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. It affirmed that there is only one leadership under former Senate President David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.”

On party membership strength, Abdullahi said the ADC had 3,444,000 registered members based on records submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“We are building a political party that is based on certain principles, one of which is transparency. So the number I have given you can be verified with INEC, and you will find it exactly as stated,” he said.

Abdullahi, however, returned to his criticism of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, accusing it of inflating membership figures ahead of the 2027 election.

He said: “What the APC is doing is amusing and laughable. They are simply setting the stage for the rigging of the 2027 election.

“By claiming that they have 20 million or 30 million members, they are trying to plant in people’s minds the idea that at least 11 million votes are already guaranteed. It is all lies.”

Also speaking, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, said the ADC had put in place what he described as a meticulous process to ensure credible primaries across all elective positions.

“The process we have put in place is aimed at ensuring that the best candidates emerge,” he said.

On the role of INEC, Idigo said the commission had been formally notified and was monitoring the presidential primary nationwide.

He said: “We gave INEC the required notices and ensured that it attended all our primaries, from the state assembly to the governorship primaries.

“And reports reaching us today indicate that the presidential primaries are also being supervised by INEC across the federation.”

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Fresh questions are trailing Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s ambitious promise to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, especially after the APC presidential primary in the state produced just 131,096 votes for the president.

Governor Okpebholo, who doubled as the state returning officer, announced the primary results on Saturday, May 23, 2026, after collation from all 192 wards. President Tinubu polled 131,096 votes while his only challenger, Stanley Osifo, managed a solitary vote. The governor hailed the exercise as peaceful and a sign of strong support.

Hours later, the same governor doubled down on his earlier pledge, describing the 2.5 million target as “possible,” “achievable,” and “already settled” in Edo State. He claimed people were already “shouting 2.5 million votes on the streets” and pointed to federal projects and mobilisation as the magic formula.

Critics Cry “Daydream

”The huge disconnect between the primary figure and the general election promise has triggered widespread mockery across social media and opposition circles. Many Nigerians are asking how a state that produced roughly 131,000 APC primary votes hopes to deliver nearly 20 times that number in a contested national election.

Political observers and online commentators have labelled the pledge as political fantasy. Some pointed out that even total voter turnout in past Edo governorship elections has rarely approached such heights, let alone votes for a single candidate. Opposition voices, particularly from the PDP, described the claim as “overheating” and detached from reality.

One viral social media post asked: “Governor, is the 2.5 million coming from Edo or from dreamland?”Okpebholo’s defenders insist the primary only reflected accredited APC members, while the general election will attract a broader electorate motivated by infrastructure projects and federal support. The governor has repeatedly maintained that “it is settled” and that development efforts will convert sceptics into voters.

Edo State has historically been a battleground with strong opposition presence. President Tinubu’s performance in the 2023 election in the state was modest, making the sudden jump to 2.5 million votes a tall order even for loyal APC members.

As reactions continue to pour in, the governor’s bold assurance has become fodder for memes and late-night comedy, with many framing it as classic Nigerian political optimism or overpromise.

Whether Governor Okpebholo can bridge the massive gap between 131,096 and 2.5 million remains to be seen. For now, his declaration has left many wondering if it’s a statement of confidence or a political daydream.

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Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has emerged unopposed as governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) following 345,375 affirmation votes from members of the party across all the wards in the state during the party’s direct primary election.

Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Engr. Victor Abba, declared the Governor as sole candidate after announcing the result of the affirmative primary at the collation centre in the party secretariat, Asaba, the state capital.

He said: “I, Engineer Sir Victor Abba, Chairman of the Delta Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer for the Delta State Governorship Primary Election held on the 21st day of May, 2026, hereby certify that the aspirant, Rt Hon (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, scored 345,375 votes,” he declared.

Abba said Oborevwori,Gov Oborevwori declared unopposed with 345,375 affirmation votes as 2027 guber candidate having satisfied the party’s constitutional requirements and secured the highest number of valid votes cast, was duly returned elected as APC governorship candidate for Delta State.

He praised party members for their unity, maturity and peaceful conduct during the exercise, saying; “we have seen what has happened in Delta State and we are satisfied. The maturity of politics in this state is second to none.

He also commended Governor Oborevwori for infrastructural development, people-oriented programmes and governance initiatives, saying the administration had strengthened the APC’s acceptance across Delta State.

Speaking after voting in his Ward in Okpe Local Government Area, Oborevwori commended the APC leadership for conducting what he described as a transparent, peaceful and exemplary primary election.

The Governor said the large turnout across the state’s 270 wards demonstrated grassroots participation and reflected the confidence party members had in his leadership.

“I must sincerely appreciate our great party, the APC, for the transparent and exemplary model adopted for this primary election. It is a model worthy of emulation by other political parties,” he said.

Oborevwori said the peaceful conduct of the exercise marked a departure from previous political traditions, stressing that adherence to due process eliminated tensions often associated with party contests.

“For the first time in Delta State, our primaries were conducted peacefully without violence, crisis or loss of lives. Nobody imposed candidates on the people. The people freely chose those they wanted,” he stated.

Former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa said the turnout reflected support for Governor Oborevwori’s administration, while Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the Governor’s emergence reflected confidence in his leadership.

Other party leaders, including Dr Hilary Ibegbulem, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Hon. Francis Waive and Chief Solomon Areyenka, also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise and expressed confidence in the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.

The declaration of Oborevwori as APC governorship candidate was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and other party leaders.

The outcome further consolidates Oborevwori’s hold on the APC structure in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party leaders expressing confidence that his performance and growing support base would strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.