Massive protest trails the uploading of Hamman Tukur Modibbo Ribadu’s name as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Adamawa State in the forthcoming general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The protesters, mostly supporters of Ambassador Omar Suleiman across party lines, took to some major streets in Yola, the state capital, to protest the non-appearance of his name on the INEC portal.
A visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adamawa State office, on Sunday showed the names of Hamman Tukur Modibbo Ribadu and Rev. Iliya Kevin Aguwa as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 Adamawa State Governorship Election.
Speaking on behalf of supporters of Omar Suleiman’s governorship candidacy, Abdulaziz Goje explained that they gathered at the party’s state secretariat to register their displeasure over what he described as the undemocratic development at the INEC headquarters, where the name of Amb. Omar Suleiman was replaced with that of Hamman Tukur Modibbo Ribadu as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Goje said, “We have written a formal letter of complaint to the national headquarters of the party and INEC, with a view to ensuring that the popular choice of Adamawa ADC members, who voted through the electoral process enshrined in the party’s constitution, is respected.
“We are calling on the leadership and our respected stakeholders in the party to give us whom we unanimously chose as our candidate.”
He stressed that anything short of their demand could create problems for the party.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the factional state chairman of the ADC, Hon. Sai’du Naira, pacified the protesters, assuring them that the letter would be delivered to the appropriate quarters with a view to achieving their desired goal of ensuring that internal democracy prevails.
Naira, flanked by some party officials, pledged that within the next few days, the supporters would be mobilised to return for a response to their letter from the party’s headquarters, where collective decisions could be taken in the interest of all.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Working Committee and Expanded Executive Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have impeached Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin as the caretaker chairman of the party, following the recommendation of the Hon. Mark Dauda-led investigation committee on the leadership tussle in the party.
Disclosing the position of the party at a press briefing in Yola at the weekend, the Legal Adviser of the party, Barrister Abdulwahab Dahiru, said that following the suspension of Hon. Sadiq Dasin as the ADC caretaker chairman by the State Working Committee over alleged maladministration and misconduct, the investigation committee constituted to probe the issues invited Dasin three consecutive times, but he failed to honour the invitations.
Dahiru stressed that after its findings, the committee recommended that the embattled ADC chairman be removed with immediate effect, while the issue of alleged financial impropriety should be referred to an independent and professional investigative organisation.
He said, “The State Working Committee and Expanded Executive Committee of the party sat and deliberated on the recommendations of the investigation committee and resolved that Hon. Sadiq Dasin is hereby removed as the caretaker chairman of ADC, Adamawa State chapter, permanently.
“On matters regarding the finances of the party, our petition shall be transmitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe Zonal Office.
“And the new leadership under Hon. Sai’du Naira will continue to steer the activities of the party for the time being.”
When contacted for his response to the development, Sadiq Dasin said via a telephone conversation that he would speak to the media later in the week.
He asked, “How can someone with twelve (12) State Working Committee members on his side be sanctioned by only four (4) others out of sixteen (16) State Working Committee members?”
