ADC Primaries Spark Protests In Kano, Benue, Adamawa

Several aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano, Benue and Adamawa states have rejected the outcome of the party’s primaries, alleging irregularities and lack of transparency.

Naija News understands that the disputes are part of the post-primary crisis rocking the party in some states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In Kano State, aggrieved aspirants rejected the outcome of the governorship, National Assembly and state Assembly primaries.

Speaking under the platform of Concerned ADC Aspirants and Stakeholders, the aspirants alleged widespread irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.

The group’s spokesperson, Wada Masu, told Sunday Punch that the primaries could not have been conducted on May 21 because aspirants were still undergoing screening on the same day.

He said the sequence of events raised serious questions about the credibility and legitimacy of the process.

The aspirants called on the party’s national leadership to investigate the exercise and ensure a transparent resolution.

Kano Chairman Denies Claims

The Kano State ADC Chairman, Musa Ungogo, dismissed the allegations.

He insisted that due process was followed and said the complaints came from aspirants who were dissatisfied with the outcome.

Ungogo added that consultations were ongoing between leading governorship aspirants, Ibrahim Little and Malam Ibrahim Khalil, to reach a consensus.

In Benue State, no fewer than nine House of Representatives aspirants have petitioned the party’s appeal panel over the primaries.

One of the aggrieved aspirants, Inalegwu Ejembi, described the exercise as a “shame,” alleging that no primary 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.

Ejembi ruled out defecting to another party but said he was confident that the appeal panel would address the complaints raised by the aspirants.

Adamawa Aspirant Heads To Court

In Adamawa State, a House of Representatives aspirant, Ahmed Bashir, described the ADC primary as “a sham.”

He vowed to challenge the outcome in court.

Bashir alleged that he was pressured to step down for Adamu Atiku, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is the party’s presidential candidate.

He also claimed that he was denied access to the appeal committee and had to forward 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.

Party Insists Primaries Were Fair

Reacting, the ADC Secretary in Adamawa State, Shagna Pwamaddi, maintained that the primaries were free and fair.

He advised dissatisfied members to seek redress through the party’s internal mechanisms.