ADC Picks Durkwa To Challenge Ndume In Borno South Senate Race

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has picked Alhaji Idris Gatumbwa Mamman Durkwa as its candidate to challenge incumbent Senator Ali Ndume in the 2027 senatorial election for Borno South.

Idris Durkwa emerged alongside other senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly consensus candidates affirmed by party faithful during the ADC consensus primaries held in Maiduguri.

Durkwa, a former APC governorship aspirant in 2019, was presented as the consensus choice to “reposition ADC for unity, growth, and electoral success” in the southern Borno senatorial district.

The development sets up a direct contest against Senator Ndume, who recently received backing from Borno South APC stakeholders and endorsement from Deputy Speaker Abdullahi Musa Askira.

ADC leaders said the party aims to challenge APC dominance in the zone by fielding what it described as credible candidates across constituencies.

Addressing journalists after the affirmation exercise, ADC Organising Secretary, Mohammed Umar Bolori, said about 25 candidates were affirmed for State Assembly seats as consensus picks.

He added that eight House of Representatives candidates and three senatorial candidates for Borno North, Central and South were also affirmed through consensus by party leaders and stakeholders.

Bolori further disclosed that governorship aspirants within the party would still participate in competitive primaries, while additional House of Representatives tickets—including Jere, Hawul-Askira Uba, and Gwoza-Damboa-Chibok federal constituencies—would also be decided through elections.

He decried what he described as worsening economic hardship and insecurity in Borno State and across Nigeria, blaming the situation on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bolori assured supporters that ADC candidates, if elected, would work to address insecurity, economic hardship, and other challenges facing residents.