LAGOS, Nigeria — Multiple Nigerian opposition political parties produced factional presidential candidates and parallel voting exercises during nationwide primary elections held on Monday, May 25, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okay News reports that the African Democratic Congress presidential primaries election committee chairman, Ikechi Emenike, announced in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 25, 2026, that the organization had commenced a nationwide voting process across 8,809 electoral wards. The faction led by former Nigerian Senate President David Mark, which is recognized on the official website of Nigeria’s independent electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, conducted voting among three aspirants, including former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, former Nigerian Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and businessman Mohammed Hayattu-Deen. A rival faction loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, held a separate exercise on Sunday, May 24, 2026, and declared Kachikwu as its consensus candidate.
Atiku Abubakar cast his vote at the Ajiya Ward polling unit in Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State, while Rotimi Amaechi voted in Ward 5 in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Following the vote, Atiku Abubakar said: “I joined other prospective voters of African Democratic Congress in our party’s presidential primaries in casting my vote at the Ajiya Ward Polling Unit in Jimeta Yola, Adamawa State. This is democracy at work. The election taking place simultaneously in 8,809 wards in Nigeria is a major step in our quest to recover our beloved country and set it on the path of prosperity.”
The African Democratic Congress National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said that the organization has 3,444,000 registered members according to records submitted to the electoral commission. Abdullahi dismissed the parallel faction and said that the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the leadership under David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Factional disputes also affected the Social Democratic Party and Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party. The Social Democratic Party produced two candidates, with the National Working Committee led by Prof. Sadiq Gombe selecting Prince Adewolu Adebayo and the camp led by Shehu Gabam fielding Abimbola Atanda. The Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee led by Kabiru Turaki named former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole aspirant for primaries scheduled for May 28, 2026, while a parallel faction backed by politician Nyesom Wike put forward Senator Sandy Onor. Outgoing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is also contesting through an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Alliance Peoples MovemeOther political organizations scheduled their exercises for late May 2026. The Peoples Redemption Party presidential primary concludes on May 26, 2026, with former Cross River State governor Donald Duke, economist Nnaoke Ufere, and Yakubu Kingsley on the ballot. The Labour Party cleared Peter Agada and Samuel Nwigwe for a primary election scheduled on May 29, 2026. The Nigeria Democratic Congress scheduled its primary for May 29, 2026, with former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as the sole aspirant, while the Accord party designated Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its single presidential hopeful.
