ADC Holds Primaries in 15 Plateau LGAs Ahead of Polls

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Plateau State has concluded its candidate selection process for 15 of the state’s 17 local government areas, positioning the party for the September 9 council elections.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the party primaries were largely peaceful. However, the process did not occur in Mikang and Langtang South councils. State ADC Chairman, Hanatu Gagara, explained that officials from these two local governments submitted their nomination forms after the stipulated deadline, preventing their participation.

“What happened was that the two local governments came late to obtain the forms, and by then we couldn’t sell the forms anymore because the time had already elapsed,” Gagara stated.

The situation may yet be revised. The chairman noted that the party leadership recently received correspondence from the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), which has extended the timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries. She indicated the ADC would review the matter in light of this new development.

Gagara expressed optimism about the party’s electoral prospects, describing the ADC as a formidable opposition force in the state. She highlighted the calibre of candidates fielded for chairmanship and councillorship positions and pointed to an influx of defections from other parties as evidence of growing support.

The party is also intensifying its membership drive ahead of the polls. Gagara disclosed that electronic member registration is ongoing across the state, with officials deployed to local government areas. She urged both existing and prospective members to visit their ward and local government offices to complete or validate their registration, noting high enthusiasm among members with the congresses approaching.

The ADC’s preparedness and its handling of the two omitted local governments will be closely watched as the state moves toward the September 9 local government elections, a key test for opposition parties challenging the incumbent administration.