ADC plans stiffer contest with APC in Borno

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State has declared its readiness to give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a stiffer contest in the 2027 elections, making the announcement after the conclusion of its governorship primaries in Maiduguri where Alhaji Babagana Buhari emerged as its candidate for the poll.

Buhari, a former Commissioner of Land and Survey, was declared the winner of the governorship direct primaries after securing 71,867 votes over two other contestants in an exercise that drew delegates from all 27 local government areas of the state.

The Returning Officer for the election, Mai Adamu Mustapha, announced that the collation of votes from the 27 local governments showed that the second runner up, Attom Mohammed Magira, scored 2,033 votes, while Sanusi Kashim Ibrahim polled 1,033 votes to clinch third place.

“I hereby declare Babagana Buhari, who polled 71,867 votes, as the winner of the Borno State ADC Governorship Direct Primary Election,” Mustapha announced, formalising Buhari’s emergence as the party’s standard bearer.

Babagana Buhari of the ADC will face another former commissioner, APC governorship candidate Mustapha Gubio, in the February 2027 governorship election in what is expected to be a keenly contested race.

The ADC’s confidence ahead of the election reflects a broader determination by opposition parties to challenge the APC’s long standing dominance in Borno State, a stronghold the ruling party has held firmly for several electoral cycles.