ADC Faces Internal Crises Amid Primary Disputes
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is currently grappling with significant internal challenges following the conclusion of its primaries. Allegations of irregularities, parallel primaries, the emergence of rival candidates, and threats of litigation have marked the party’s nomination process in several states, including Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Benue, and Adamawa. These disputes have raised concerns about the party’s ability to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Factions Emerge in Ogun and Katsina States
The situation escalated dramatically in Ogun and Katsina states, where two factions of the ADC each produced separate governorship candidates. In Ogun, a faction loyal to the state leadership under Emmanuel Famojuro declared Dr Biodun Ogundipe, a Canada-based artificial intelligence expert, as the winner of the governorship primary. Meanwhile, another faction loyal to Femi Soluade announced Jimi Lawal, a former aide to the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as the party’s candidate.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that both politicians are still laying claim to the governorship ticket and may head to court for resolution unless there is strong intervention from the party’s national leadership. A top aide to one of the governorship aspirants, Marie Odusina, criticized the conduct of the primary election, alleging it was shrouded in secrecy, poorly managed, and riddled with irregularities. The aide mentioned that Odusina is considering joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing dissatisfaction with the way the primary was handled.
In Katsina, a faction led by Musa Wamba adopted Salisu Uli as the governorship candidate through a consensus arrangement, while another faction under Mohammed Rimi endorsed former senator Ahmed Kaita. Supporters of both aspirants have traded accusations over the legitimacy of the process, with each camp insisting their candidate emerged through the recognized party structure.
Rejections and Petitions in Kano, Benue, and Adamawa
Several aspirants in Kano, Benue, and Adamawa states also rejected the outcome of the primaries. In Kano, aggrieved aspirants rejected the results of the party’s governorship, National Assembly, and state Assembly primaries, alleging widespread irregularities. The group’s spokesperson, Wada Masu, stated that the sequence of events surrounding the exercise raised serious questions about its credibility and legitimacy.
In Benue, nine House of Representatives aspirants petitioned the party’s appeal panel over the conduct of the primaries. One of the affected aspirants, Inalegwu Ejembi, described the exercise as a “shame,” claiming no primary election was held. Similarly, in Adamawa State, House of Representatives aspirant Ahmed Bashir called the party’s primary a “sham” and vowed to challenge the outcome in court. He alleged being pressured to step down for Adamu Atiku, the son of the former vice president and the party’s presidential candidate.
Defections and New Alliances
Meanwhile, a former House of Representatives aspirant of the ADC in Kebbi State, Bashar Geda, has defected to the ruling APC alongside party executives and supporters. Geda, who contested in the ADC primary election for the Bunza, Birnin Kebbi, and Kalgo Federal Constituency seat, was received into the APC by leaders of the party at Nasarawa I Ward on Saturday. Speaking at the event, the APC state chairman, represented by the party’s Vice Chairman for Kebbi Central, Shehu Idris, described the move as a significant boost to the party and welcomed the defectors.
Geda cited the developmental achievements of Governor Nasir Idris across the state as the motivation for his decision to leave the ADC. He expressed confidence that aligning with the APC would contribute to the administration’s success. Governor Idris appreciated the defectors for joining the APC, assuring them of fair treatment within the party.
These developments highlight the growing instability within the ADC and raise questions about its future direction. As the party navigates these internal conflicts, the path forward remains uncertain, with many wondering whether the ADC can recover and maintain its electoral strength in the upcoming years.
