ADP Warns Suspended Chairman Against Instigating Party Crisis

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has warned its suspended National Chairman, Engr. Yabagi Sani, against instigating a crisis in the party. According to the party's National Secretary, Hon. Victor Fingesi, Engr. Sani's actions are aimed at destabilizing the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The warning comes after the party's National Working Committee (NWC) suspended Engr. Sani on November 3, 2026, citing his series of constitutional breaches.

Engr. Sani's constitutional breaches include his refusal to step aside after serving more than two terms as National Chairman, which is eight years in office. The ADP Constitution states that party officers shall hold office for a term of four years and are eligible for re-election only for one term. Despite this, Engr. Sani has continued to hold onto his position, prompting the NWC to take action against him.

In a memo dated November 6, 2026, Engr. Sani proposed the dissolution of the party's executive committees below the national level, citing the expiration of their four-year tenure. He claimed that the four-month transitional period for fresh congresses elapsed on September 30, 2026, and that the continued operation of these structures raises questions about their authority and the party's organisational integrity.

However, Hon. Fingesi has faulted Engr. Sani's memo, describing it as illegal and a misinterpretation of the National Convention's decisions. According to him, the National Convention of May 29, 2026, gave members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) another four years in office, which includes officers from below the national level. He argued that Engr. Sani's proposal seeks to create a distinction that the convention never made.

Hon. Fingesi further argued that any attempt by the NWC to dissolve the lower executive committees on the ground of expired tenure, while claiming that the National Executive was renewed, contradicts the same convention decision relied upon by Engr. Sani. He questioned the invocation of various articles of the ADP Constitution to justify emergency powers, dissolution, and appointment of caretaker committees.

The National Secretary maintained that if implemented, Engr. Sani's memo would amount to an unlawful dissolution of duly constituted party structures and could plunge the party into further crisis. He emphasized that the party's NEC is expected to meet and ratify Engr. Sani's removal from office, and that his actions are aimed at destabilizing the party.

The crisis in the ADP comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, and the party's leadership is working to resolve the issue and prevent further instability. The party's NWC will need to take a firm stance on the matter to prevent the crisis from escalating and to ensure the party's continued stability and effectiveness in the lead-up to the elections.

Key points

• The Action Democratic Party has suspended its National Chairman, Engr. Yabagi Sani, citing constitutional breaches and term limits.
• Engr. Sani's proposed dissolution of party executive committees has been deemed illegal by the party's National Secretary, Hon. Victor Fingesi.
• The crisis in the ADP comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, and the party's leadership is working to resolve the issue and prevent further instability.