A mass protest follows the publication of Hamman Tukur Modibbo Ribadu’s name as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for Adamawa State in the upcoming general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The protesters, mostly supporters of Ambassador Omar Suleiman from all parties, took to some major streets in Yola, the state capital, to protest against 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 African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 Adamawa State gubernatorial election.
Speaking on behalf of supporters of Omar Suleiman’s gubernatorial candidacy, Abdulaziz Goje explained that they gathered at the party’s state secretariat to express their displeasure over what he described as an undemocratic event at the INEC headquarters, where the Ambassador was named. Omar Suleiman was replaced by Hamman Tukur Modibbo Ribadu as the party’s candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Goje said: “We have written a formal letter of complaint to the party’s national headquarters and INEC, with a view to ensuring that the popular election of Adamawa ADC members, who voted through the electoral process enshrined in the party’s constitution, is respected.
“We call on the party leadership and our respected shareholders to give us who we unanimously elect as our candidate.”
READ ALSO: 2027: Why ADC, NDC and others must unite —Professor Kila
He stressed that anything that did not meet his demand could create problems for the party.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the president of the state faction of the ADC, Hon. Sai’du Naira, pacified the protesters, assuring them that the letter would be delivered to the appropriate places with a view to achieving the desired objective of ensuring that internal democracy prevails.
Naira, flanked by some party officials, promised that in the coming days supporters would be mobilized to return for a response to her letter from the party headquarters, where collective decisions could be made in the interest of all.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Working Committee and the Expanded Executive Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have contested Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin as the acting president of the party, following the recommendation of Hon. Investigative committee led by Mark Dauda into the leadership struggle in the party.
Revealing the party’s position at a press conference in Yola at the weekend, the party’s legal advisor, Barrister Abdulwahab Dahiru, said following the suspension of Hon. Sadiq Dasin, as acting chairman of the ADC by the State Working Committee for alleged maladministration and misconduct, the inquiry committee constituted to probe the issues invited Dasin three consecutive times, but he did not honor the invitations.
Dahiru stressed that following its findings, the committee recommended that the ADC chairman in question be removed with immediate effect, while the matter of alleged financial irregularity should be referred to an independent and professional investigation organisation.
He said: “The State Working Committee and the Expanded Executive Committee of the party met and deliberated on the recommendations of the inquiry committee and resolved that Honorable Sadiq Dasin be removed as Acting Chairman of ADC, Adamawa State Chapter, permanently.
“On issues relating to the finances of the party, our petition will be conveyed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe Zonal Office.
“And the new leadership under Hon. Sai’du Naira will continue to direct the activities of the party for the time being.”
When contacted for his response to the development, Sadiq Dasin said through a telephone conversation that he would speak to the media later in the week.
He asked: “How can someone who has twelve (12) members of the State Labor Committee on his side be sanctioned by only four (4) others of the sixteen (16) members of the State Labor Committee?”
WATCH THE BEST VIDEOS FROM Newslodge TV