INEC Excludes ADC, NDC From Cross River Governorship Race

By EFFANGA OSOK

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will not field governorship candidates in Cross River State’s 6th February 2027 election, following their omission from the final list of cleared candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC published the list on Saturday, confirming that only eight political parties had candidates for the governorship contest. They are the All Progressives Congress (APC), All Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Labour Party (LP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, the list identifies Nya Bassey of the APP as the youngest governorship candidate. In contrast, incumbent Governor Bassey Otu of the APC and Ali Patrick of the AA are the oldest, at 66 years each.

Beyond the governorship race, INEC has cleared at least 241 candidates to contest 36 elective positions across Cross River State in the 2027 general elections. These positions include the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats.