The African Democratic Congress in Niger State has picked Dr Mohammed Kpautagi to fly its flag in the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Kpautagi, whose background and political credentials the party did not immediately detail, becomes the standard-bearer for the ADC in a state where competition for the top job will likely intensify as the election year approaches. The announcement came as other political parties in Niger State continue their own processes for selecting candidates ahead of the 2027 contest.
The ADC, one of the newer political parties trying to establish itself across Nigeria's 36 states, has been working to build a presence in Niger. The party's choice of Kpautagi signals an attempt to present a fresh face in a state where incumbent Governor Malam Mohammed Bago of the All Progressives Congress is constitutionally barred from seeking another term after 2027.
With Kpautagi now representing the ADC at the governorship level, the party is expected to move into campaign mode, though the actual election campaign period has not yet commenced. The Electoral Commission will formally kick off campaigns closer to the 2027 election date. Other positions at the state and federal levels, including senatorial and House of Representatives seats, will also have candidates announced by the ADC in Niger in the coming months as the party completes its candidate selection process.
The ADC's move to field a governorship candidate reflects broader efforts by third parties and smaller political movements to challenge the dominance of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigerian elections.
