Malami, Ogboru, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Lead as ADC Unleashes Political Heavyweights for 28 Governorship Slots ahead of 2027

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially released its list of governorship and deputy governorship candidates for 28 states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The announcement, made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, positions the ADC as a prominent alternative platform for the upcoming polls.

The Key Gladiators

The list includes several heavyweight political figures and former public office holders who have defected from other major political parties:

• Lagos State: Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (former Labour Party candidate) running with Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere.
• Kebbi State: Abubakar Malami (former Attorney-General of the Federation).
• Kaduna State: Isa Mohammed Ashiru (former PDP governorship candidate).
• Delta State: Chief Great Ogboru.
• Katsina State: Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita.

Complete List of States and Candidates

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Northern Region

• Adamawa: Modibbo Hammantukur Ribadu (Governor) | Aguwa Kevin Iliya (Deputy)
• Bauchi: Sen. Halliru Dauda Jika (Governor) | Sama’ila Mohammed Kabir (Deputy)
• Benue: Rt. Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe (Governor) | Abba John Abba (Deputy)
• Borno: Babagana Buhari (Governor) | Mamman Dauda (Deputy)
• Gombe: Bala Bello (Governor) | Bala Sani Isa (Deputy)
• Jigawa: Sabo Mohammed Nakudu (Governor) | Musa Ya’u Balarabe (Deputy)
• Kaduna: Isa Mohammed Ashiru (Governor) | Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku (Deputy)
• Kano: Ibrahim Ali Amin (Governor) | Shehu Abdulkadir Bari (Deputy)
• Katsina: Sen. Ahmad Babba Kaita (Governor) | Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed (Deputy)
• Kebbi: Abubakar Malami (Governor) | Zagi Musa Mohammed (Deputy)
• Kwara: Zakari Mohammed (Governor) | Olawuyi Julius Olayide (Deputy)
• Nasarawa: Nuhu Angbazo (Governor) | Ahmed Yusuf (Deputy)
• Niger: Dr. Mohammed Kpautagi (Governor) | Musa Mamman (Deputy)
• Plateau: Brig. Gen. John Sunday Sura (Governor) | Pwajok-Kele Chundung Bitrus (Deputy)
• Sokoto: Manir Mohammad Daniya (Governor) | Isah Bello Ambarura (Deputy)
• Taraba: Abubakar Umar Tutare (Governor) | Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan (Deputy)
• Yobe: Kassim G. Gaidam (Governor) | Kori Lawan Mohammed (Deputy)
• Zamfara: Shinkafi Bilyaminu Yusuf (Governor) | Muhammad Abdulmuddalib Auwal (Deputy)

Southern Region
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• Abia: Kalu Kalu Agu (Governor) | Alozie Ogadinma Darlington (Deputy)
• Akwa Ibom: Akpanudoedehe John James (Governor) | Nsien Mkpombuk Tommy (Deputy)
• Cross River: Nkoyo Toyo (Governor) | Okwoche Andrew Adagbor (Deputy)
• Delta: Chief Great Ogboru (Governor) | Afiari Gloria (Deputy)
• Ebonyi: Ukpai Mba Udeh (Governor) | Onwe Daniel Ede (Deputy)
• Enugu: Ocho Obodoeze Chukwuma (Governor) | Eze Arinze Christopher (Deputy)
• Lagos: Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (Governor) | Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere (Deputy)
• Ogun: Biodun Collins Ogundipe (Governor) | Muraina Oluwaranti Oluyemi (Deputy)
• Oyo: Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke (Governor) | Wahab Adeniyi (Deputy)
• Rivers: Gabriel Pidomson (Governor) | Okumgba David Amapakaye (Deputy)

Detailed background information on five of the most high-profile ADC candidates:

1. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (Lagos State)

Commonly known as GRV, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is an architect, activist, and politician from a highly distinguished Lagos family.

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• Political History: He rose to major national prominence during the 2023 elections when he ran as the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate for Lagos State, finishing as the first runner-up behind incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Before his time with the Labour Party, he contested the Lagos West Senatorial seat under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.

• Defection to ADC: In May 2026, GRV formally defected to the ADC. He won the party’s direct primary election with 12,948 votes, aligning himself with an emerging major opposition coalition ahead of 2027.

• Background: He holds an architecture degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His family lineage features prominent legal minds; his uncle, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In April 2025, he was traditionally installed as the Obalefun of Lagos.

2. Abubakar Malami, SAN (Kebbi State)

Abubakar Malami is a high-profile legal heavyweight who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from 2015 to 2023 under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
• Political History: As AGF, Malami was one of the most powerful and influential figures in Nigeria’s cabinet for nearly a decade, managing high-stakes national legal battles, recovered assets, and constitutional matters.

• Defection to ADC: In May 2026, Malami picked up the ADC governorship form for Kebbi State, declaring a “State of Emergency on Misgovernance”. His campaign is positioned as a “rescue mission” targeted at addressing rising banditry, rural poverty, and agricultural decay in Kebbi.

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• Background: Born in Birnin Kebbi, he studied law at Usmanu Danfodiyo University and was called to the Bar in 1992. He attained the prestigious elite legal rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in recognition of his legal advocacy. He operates the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative (KJDI), a grassroots empowerment foundation in Kebbi.

3. Isa Mohammed Ashiru (Kaduna State)

Isa Ashiru Kudan is a veteran civil servant and legislator who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Bai of the Zazzau Emirate. He is one of the most enduring political figures in Kaduna State.

• Political History: Ashiru has a vast legislative footprint. He served in the Kaduna State House of Assembly (1999–2007) before being elected to the federal House of Representatives representing the Kudan/Makarfi Federal Constituency (2007–2015). He has relentlessly pursued the Kaduna governorship seat: finishing as runner-up to Nasir El-Rufai in the 2015 APC primary, and later flying the PDP flag as its main governorship candidate in both the 2019 and 2023 general elections.

• Defection to ADC: Seeking a fresh vehicle after his past attempts under the APC and PDP, Ashiru clinched the ADC ticket in mid-2026. He has already inaugurated a robust ADC Campaign Council headed by Dr. John Markus Ayuba.

• Background: Before his 27-year political career, he had a stellar run in the Kaduna State civil service. He is often viewed politically as a close ally and political “godson” of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

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4. Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru (Delta State)

Popularly called “The Peoples General” by his loyal political followers, Chief Great Ogboru is one of the most enduring and resilient opposition figures in the history of Delta State politics.

• The Perennial Challenger: Ogboru has the unique distinction of having contested nearly every Delta State governorship election since the year 2000. He fought memorable electoral battles against former Governor James Ibori in 2003, Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2007 and 2011, and Ifeanyi Okowa in 2015 and 2019.

• Political Nomadism: Driven by a persistent quest to break the ruling PDP’s hold on Delta State, Ogboru has flown the flag of numerous parties over the last two decades. These include the South-South Rainbow Coalition (SSRC), the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2023. He has now transitioned to the ADC for his 2027 campaign.

• Business and Exile Background: Long before entering politics, Ogboru was a billionaire fish-magnate and industrialist. His life took a dramatic turn in 1990 when he was accused by the military regime of financially backing the bloody Gideon Orkar coup attempt against General Ibrahim Babangida. He fled the country and spent 10 years in exile in the UK, Namibia, and Angola, before being granted an official presidential pardon and returning in the year 2000.

5. Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina State)

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Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita is an influential, outspoken legislator and a powerhouse in northwestern politics, particularly within President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina.

• Legislative Footprint: Kaita built a formidable reputation in the National Assembly. He first served as a member of the federal House of Representatives representing the Kankia/Ingawa/Kusada constituency. He later moved up to the Senate, winning a high-stakes 2018 bye-election to represent the Katsina North Senatorial District—the very senatorial zone where Muhammadu Buhari hails from. He successfully retained the seat in the 2019 general elections.

• Ideological Maverick: Known for his sharp, independent stance, Kaita famously broke ranks with the ruling APC in April 2022. He cited a lack of internal democracy and structural marginalization within the state’s party leadership, subsequently defecting to the PDP. Now, in a strategic pivot to challenge the incumbent APC administration of Governor Dikko Radda, he has clinched the 2027 ADC ticket.

• The Yar’Adua Connection: Highlighting his deep local alliance, Kaita’s chosen 2027 running mate is Aminu Yar’adua Ahmed, anchoring his ticket to the highly revered and politically legendary Yar’Adua family lineage in Katsina.