2027: ‘No Zoning, No Consensus, No Forcing Anyone To Step Down’ – El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nasir El‑Rufai, has declared that the party’s 2027 presidential ticket will not be zoned, emphasising 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 said the ADC was mobilising aggressively at all levels, from the grassroots to the leadership tier, to position the party as a formidable force in next year’s general elections.
Responding to questions about how the party intends to broaden its support base amid stiff political competition, El‑Rufai dismissed suggestions that the ADC’s approach lacked visibility.
“No, we are mobilizing. Most of the work 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.
He contrasted the ADC’s grassroots engagement with the struggles of some ruling party lawmakers to connect with their constituents.
El-Rufai said, “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.”
El‑Rufai asserted that the ADC had tapped into the dissatisfaction and the anger among Nigerians, and was leveraging it to build support from the grassroots up.
No Zoning, Open Contest For All Aspirants
On the question of zoning, a major talking point in the run‑up to 2027, El‑Rufai was unambiguous.
El-Rufai further stated, “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 explained that the party is working to get its presidential, gubernatorial, and other aspirants to unite behind a platform that guarantees free and fair primaries, devoid of imposition or coercion.
The former governor said, “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.”
El‑Rufai also challenged critics to test the ADC’s grassroots strength against that of some ruling party members.
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.”
