ASABA, Delta State — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled its governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 Delta State election, presenting Emmanuel Unuafe and Kenneth Gbandi as the party’s standard-bearers in a bid to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the oil-rich state.
The party unveiled the ticket at a ceremony in Asaba, where it unveiled its campaign slogan: “A New Delta for All.” The ADC is banking on a platform built on competence, integrity, unity, and prosperity to appeal to voters across the state.
Unuafe, the governorship candidate, is presented as a figure embodying intellect, reform, competence, and youth inclusion. His campaign is anchored on the promise of leveraging diaspora expertise, grassroots support, and reform-oriented governance to transform Delta State. Gbandi, the deputy governorship candidate, is expected to complement the ticket with a focus on grassroots mobilisation and community engagement.
The ADC’s campaign themes, as outlined in the unveiling, include reform, youth inclusion, diaspora engagement, competence, and grassroots support. The party’s slogan, “Hope with Audacity. Courage with Purpose,” suggests a campaign aimed at inspiring confidence and presenting a credible alternative to the APC, which has governed Delta State since 2023.
The unveiling of the ADC ticket comes as political activities intensify across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections. Delta State, a key oil-producing state in the South-South region, is considered a strategic battleground, with the APC seeking to retain its hold on the state, while opposition parties are working to build coalitions and present viable alternatives to the ruling party.
The ADC, which recently survived a deregistration threat, is repositioning itself as a competitive opposition party capable of fielding candidates in states across the federation. The Delta State ticket is seen as a test of the party’s ability to consolidate its presence in the South-South region.
The APC, which has governed Delta State since 2023 following the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, has yet to unveil its candidates for the 2027 election. However, speculation has mounted that the party may face internal contestation over its ticket, with several aspirants reportedly interested in succeeding the incumbent governor.
As the election campaign gathers momentum, the ADC’s newly unveiled candidates face the monumental task of challenging the APC’s entrenched political machinery. For now, the party has made its move, and Delta State’s political landscape is set to become more competitive in the months ahead.
