The African Democratic Congress is battling crises in several states following the conclusion of its primaries.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that allegations of irregularities, parallel primaries, emergence of rival candidates, petitions and threats of litigation have trailed the party’s nomination exercises in several states, including Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Benue and Adamawa.
Some aggrieved aspirants who lost out in the primaries have also threatened to dump the party for rival platforms.
They raised concerns that the disputes could weaken the ADC’s electoral strength and undermine its efforts to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development forced the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, to resign from the party.
Lawal alleged that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Factional gov candidates in Ogun, Katsina
The crisis took a dramatic turn in Ogun and Katsina states after two factions of the party each produced separate governorship candidates.
In Ogun, a faction loyal to the state leadership under Emmanuel Famojuro declared a Canada-based artificial intelligence expert, Dr Biodun Ogundipe, winner of the governorship primary, while another faction loyal to the leadership of 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 the two politicians are still laying claim to the governorship ticket and may be heading to court for resolution unless there is strong intervention from the party’s national leadership.
Meanwhile, one of the governorship aspirants, Marie Odusina, has faulted the conduct of the primary election.
He alleged that the exercise was shrouded in secrecy, poorly managed, riddled with irregularities and undemocratic.
A top aide to the governorship aspirant, who pleaded anonymity, said Odusina was already considering joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
He said, “Dr Odusina is not actually happy with the way the governorship primary was handled. It was obviously organised to favour a predetermined candidate. We are already planning to dump ADC for NDC; that much I can say.”
Efforts to speak with Odusina were unsuccessful as she was said to be outside the country.
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 that its candidate emerged through the recognised party structure.
Aspirants reject primaries in Kano, Benue, Adamawa
Several aspirants in Kano, Benue and Adamawa states also rejected the outcome of the primaries.
In Kano, aggrieved aspirants rejected the outcome of the party’s governorship, National Assembly and state Assembly primaries, alleging widespread irregularities.
Speaking under the umbrella of Concerned ADC Aspirants and Stakeholders, the aggrieved members said the primaries could not have been conducted on May 21 because aspirants were still undergoing screening on the same day.
The group’s spokesperson, Wada Masu, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on Friday, said the sequence of events surrounding the exercise raised serious questions about its credibility and legitimacy.
The aspirants subsequently called on the party’s national leadership to investigate the exercise and ensure a transparent resolution of the dispute.
However, the state chairman, Musa Ungogo, dismissed the allegations, insisting that due process was followed and attributed the complaints to dissatisfaction among unsuccessful aspirants.
He added that consultations were ongoing between leading governorship aspirants, Ibrahim Little and Malam Ibrahim Khalil, in an effort to reach a consensus.
In Benue, no fewer than nine House of Representatives aspirants have petitioned the party’s appeal panel over the conduct of the primaries.
One of the aggrieved aspirants, Inalegwu Ejembi, described the exercise as a “shame,” alleging that no primary election was held.
“On a personal note, I will tell you that there was no primary anywhere. We all went home expecting to participate in the election, but unfortunately, there was no election,” he said.
Although Ejembi ruled out defecting to another party, he expressed confidence that the appeal panel would address the grievances raised by the affected aspirants.
The situation is similar in Adamawa State, where a House of Representatives aspirant, Ahmed Bashir, described the party’s primary as “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.
Bashir further claimed that he was denied access to the appeal committee and eventually forwarded his petition to the party’s national headquarters through a courier service.
“I’m going to court to challenge the purported conduct of the primary and the declaration of a non-contestant as winner,” he said.
Reacting, the party’s state secretary, Shagna Pwamaddi, maintained that the primaries were free and fair and advised dissatisfied members to seek redress through the party’s internal mechanisms.
Reps aspirant defects in Kebbi
Meanwhile, a former House of Representatives aspirant of the party 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.
He assured them of equal opportunities and full participation in party affairs.
“The APC remains a party committed to the welfare and interests of the masses. We welcome you into our fold and assure you of fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities,” Idris said.
Addressing supporters, Geda said his decision to leave the ADC was motivated by the developmental achievements of Governor Nasir Idris across the state.
According to him, the governor’s performance convinced him and his supporters to align with the APC and contribute to the administration’s success.
“I have seen the good work you have done for the people of Kebbi State. In view of this, I, alongside my parents and supporters, have resolved to support you and ensure the success of your administration,” Geda stated.
Responding, Governor Idris expressed appreciation to the defectors for joining the APC, assuring them that they would be treated fairly within the party.
