Hanny Henry
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing an internal crisis over its 2027 governorship ticket in Adamawa State, with party stakeholders alleging a move to replace its candidate, Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, with Tukur Modibbo.
The stakeholders, through their spokesperson, Bukar Dahi, accused the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by former Senate President David Mark, of weak leadership and alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was influencing decisions within the party. They made the allegations during an interview with selected editors in Abuja.
Dahi alleged that Modibbo, who the group said came second in the party’s governorship primary, was being considered as a replacement for Omar Suleiman, whom they maintained emerged from the primary.
He questioned the basis for removing a candidate who had secured the party’s ticket through its internal electoral process.
“There is no justified reason for the replacement of the candidate who emerged from the primary election with another aspirant. This is an action that directly undermines democracy in the state and in the country at large,” Dahi said.
The stakeholders alleged that Atiku had influenced members of the David Mark-led NWC to consider the substitution, raising questions about the independence of the party’s national leadership.
They also alleged that ethnic and religious considerations were being introduced into the Adamawa governorship contest, a claim Atiku has denied through his aide, Phrank Shaibu.
The group said the dispute could damage the ADC’s chances in Adamawa, particularly because Omar Suleiman had, according to them, built considerable grassroots support across the state.
They warned that replacing him could trigger disaffection among party members and strengthen rival political parties ahead of the 2027 election.
The controversy has also attracted criticism from former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, who, in a Facebook post titled “Kachalla Series Three,” questioned the ADC’s candidate-selection process and alleged that Omar Suleiman had been replaced. Lawal also linked the alleged development to ethnic considerations and Atiku’s influence.
The stakeholders further cited a social media post by Aminu Iyawa, whom they identified as an APC supporter, in which he appeared to welcome the alleged emergence of Modibbo as the ADC candidate.
They argued that the reaction raised political questions about who could benefit from any change to the ADC ticket, although the post alone does not establish any coordinated arrangement between the parties.
Beyond Adamawa, Dahi said the ADC was facing unresolved governorship disputes in Sokoto, Imo, Kano and Borno, alongside legal uncertainties involving some of its candidates and dealings with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He warned that failure to resolve the disputes transparently could affect the party’s preparedness for the 2027 elections.
The stakeholders therefore called on the David Mark-led NWC to clarify its position on the Adamawa ticket, respect the outcome of the party’s primary and resist what they described as undue influence from powerful individuals.
They also urged INEC to scrutinise any proposed change to the ADC’s governorship candidature in Adamawa and ensure compliance with the party’s constitution and electoral laws.
The group maintained that the controversy had become a test of the ADC’s commitment to internal democracy, insisting that the party must allow its electoral processes to determine its candidates.
They warned that any attempt to impose a different candidate could weaken the party in Adamawa and undermine its broader claim of providing Nigerians with a credible opposition platform in 2027.
