African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has stepped into the lingering dispute between two rival factions of the party in Jigawa State. The intervention comes as the party faces challenges ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku, along with the party's National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and other senior leaders, led a reconciliation meeting between the two camps. The goal was to resolve the dispute and prevent further internal disagreement from affecting the party's preparations.
The dispute centered on the party's candidate lists submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal. One faction, led by Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, had instituted a case against the other faction, led by Hon. Bashir Adamu Jimbo, over the list, including the choice of governorship running mate and some National and State Assembly candidates. In response, the Jimbo faction challenged Nakudu's eligibility to contest the governorship election, alleging irregularities in the primary election.
According to Ali Tukur, a member of the ADC National Executive Committee and Northwest Organising Secretary, the meeting resulted in both factional leaders accepting the terms of the reconciliation and signing an agreement to end their legal battles. The agreement maintains the status quo and recognizes the list of candidates already submitted to and published by INEC. This development creates an opportunity for both sides to resolve their differences and begin a fresh reconciliation process within the Jigawa chapter.
Atiku welcomed the agreement between the two factions and called for unity ahead of the elections. He emphasized that internal contests are an inevitable part of democratic processes but stressed that political organizations must be able to reconcile differences after such contests. Atiku urged the factions to work together in the interest of the party, stating that the task ahead demands that every member bring their strength, experience, and commitment to the collective cause.
The reconciliation in Jigawa comes as the ADC faces another nomination dispute in Adamawa State. The Federal High Court in Abuja recently recognized Abubakar Bashir as the winner of the ADC primary for the Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency. The court nullified the nomination of incumbent lawmaker Abubakar Babazango as the party's candidate for the 2027 election. Bashir had polled 33,931 votes in the May 21 primary, ahead of six other aspirants.
The court's judgment, delivered by Justice Chigozie Onah on September 17, relied on Section 12 of the ADC Guidelines for the Conduct of Primary Elections. The section provides that a declared winner can be replaced only where the winner dies or withdraws from the race. The court found that neither circumstance applied to Bashir and consequently directed INEC to recognize him as the ADC candidate for the federal constituency.
The ADC now faces the challenge of implementing the court ruling and reconciling its factions in various states. Atiku's intervention in Jigawa State is seen as a step towards resolving internal disputes and presenting a united front ahead of the 2027 elections. The party's ability to manage its internal conflicts will be crucial in determining its performance in the upcoming elections.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar intervenes in ADC factions' dispute in Jigawa State.
- The intervention aims to resolve the dispute and prevent further internal disagreement.
- The ADC faces another nomination dispute in Adamawa State.
