Nkechinyere Ewa
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ebonyi State Chapter, has dissociated itself from Prof. Ernest Uchenna Ereke, who has been parading himself as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the party’s State Secretary, Hon. Mgboroko Chukwudi, the ADC described Ereke as a “self-acclaimed candidate” and said he did not emerge from any valid party primary.
The party said its authentic governorship candidate remains Hon. Oriji Tobias Nnabuike, who, according to the statement, emerged through a credible and INEC-monitored process.
The development comes amid reports that Oriji emerged as the ADC governorship candidate in May after the party’s primary election conducted across the 171 wards of the state. Contemporary reports at the time said 6,730 delegates were accredited, while 6,400 participated in the exercise.
The Ebonyi ADC urged party members, INEC, security agencies and the general public to disregard Ereke’s claim to the party’s governorship ticket.
It further warned that anyone dealing with Ereke as the ADC governorship candidate would be doing so at their own risk, insisting that he had no mandate from either the state or national leadership of the party.
The party said it had lodged a formal petition with the ADC National Working Committee, INEC and security agencies over the matter.
The statement added that the Ebonyi chapter remained focused on what it described as its “Rescue Mission 2027” and would not be distracted by the development.
The ADC national leadership published a list of its 2027 governorship candidates on September 4, 2026, in which Ukpai Mba Udeh was listed as the party’s Ebonyi governorship candidate, with Onwe Daniel Ede as running mate.
The national list appears to conflict with the Ebonyi State chapter’s September 16 statement insisting that Oriji Tobias Nnabuike is the party’s authentic candidate.