The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has conducted a fresh substitutive primary election for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District, with Dr. Prince Gamax Idenyi emerging as the party's candidate for the 2027 general election.
The substitution primary, held on Thursday at the APGA Secretariat in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, produced Idenyi as the sole candidate after he polled 450 votes.
The ADC State Chairman, Dr. Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and successful, saying it was conducted in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, party members and the media.
Adibe-Nwafor explained that the fresh primary became necessary following alterations in the party's earlier nomination process, adding that the national leadership of the ADC consequently directed the Ebonyi State chapter to conduct a substitution primary.
According to her, the exercise conducted at the party's designated venue in Abakaliki on Thursday was the authentic substitution primary recognised by the Ebonyi State chapter and would be formally communicated to the national leadership of the party.
She also dismissed reports of any parallel primary election, insisting that the state leadership was not aware of another exercise being conducted elsewhere.
"If there should be any primaries, I should be the one in charge of the primaries. I am not aware of any other primaries going on anywhere," Adibe-Nwafor said.
The ADC chairman expressed confidence in the party's prospects in the 2027 general election, particularly in Ebonyi South, and said the party was also prepared to participate actively in the Ebonyi State local government elections scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026.
She disclosed that the party had fielded candidates for the Ohaukwu Local Government Area chairmanship election as well as councillorship positions across the state, expressing optimism that ADC would put up a strong performance.
"We are prepared for the local government elections and, by the grace of God, we believe that our candidates will perform well," she said.
Declaring the result of the senatorial substitution primary, the Returning Officer and Deputy Chairman of ADC in Ebonyi State, Dr. Victor Uduma, said Idenyi secured the mandate of party members from Ebonyi South after polling a total of 450 votes.
Uduma said the sole aspirant was overwhelmingly endorsed by delegates and party members who participated in the exercise.
"We had the only candidate here, Dr. Idenyi Gamax, who had a total of 450 votes. Party members from Ebonyi South Senatorial District were particularly enthusiastic and happy and have given him the mandate to represent them in the forthcoming 2027 general election as the ADC candidate," he said.
Speaking after his emergence, Idenyi said the substitution primary formed part of the party's administrative and electoral process following the earlier primary election held on April 22, 2026, during which he also emerged as the party's senatorial candidate.
He expressed optimism that the ADC would win the Ebonyi South senatorial election in 2027, saying his consultations across the five local government areas of the district had indicated a growing desire among the people for a change in political representation.
According to him, the people of Ebonyi South were increasingly looking towards the ADC as a platform capable of providing effective representation and delivering the dividends of democracy.
"I am very hopeful. Our people are eager for change, and they are looking at ADC as a vehicle to bring about this change and give us the kind of representation that will benefit our people," Idenyi said.
The senator aspirant said he would intensify consultations and mobilisation across Ebonyi South ahead of the 2027 general election, promising to run an issue-based campaign focused on the needs and aspirations of the people.
Idenyi's emergence has formally positioned him as the ADC's candidate for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District, setting the stage for what is expected to be a keen contest for the senatorial seat in the 2027 general election.
