Some stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject an alleged plot to substitute Mr Omar Suleiman, the party’s governorship candidate with Mr Tukur Modibbo.
The spokesman of the group, Mr Bukar Dahi, made the call at a press conference in Yola on Tuesday.
He alleged that the national leadership of the party was under pressure by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to substitute Suleiman with Modibbo, who came second at the governorship primary election.
“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 spokesman said Suleiman gained momentum from the ward level to broader political campaigns and became a threat to the established political order in the state.
“Replacing him after a primary election could weaken the ADC’s electoral chances and expose the party to criticism over its commitment to internal democracy,” he noted.
Dahi therefore urged INEC to ensure that any alteration to Suleiman’s candidature complied with the party’s constitution and applicable electoral laws.
He said the commission should act in the interest of peace, fairness and justice, particularly given the political sensitivity surrounding the 2027 governorship election.
The spokesman noted that imposition and other forms of irregularities were allegedly responsible for the party’s unresolved governorship disputes in Adamawa, Sokoto, Imo, Kano and Borno.
Dahi called on the Sen. David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to demonstrate independence, resolve internal disagreements transparently and uphold the outcome of the party’s electoral processes.
He warned that substituting an elected candidate without any cogent reason could damage ADC’s credibility and undermine its claim of providing a democratic alternative ahead of 2027.
In a swift reaction, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Phrank Shaibu, denied any involvement by his principal in the alleged plot to substitute Suleiman.
Atiku Abubakar, has neither initiated nor sanctioned any move to replace any duly nominated candidate of the ADC anywhere in Nigeria.
“As the party’s presidential candidate, he has consistently upheld the sanctity of the party’s internal democratic processes and remains firmly committed to respecting the decisions of its constitutionally recognised organs,” he said.
