Adamawa ADC rift: Omar challenges Atiku over replacement
The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Alhaji Suleiman Omar, has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over the reported replacement of his candidacy, insisting that only the court can determine who represents the party in the 2027 election.
Omar, who addressed a press conference in Yola on Friday, accused Atiku, the ADC’s national leader, of interfering in the party’s affairs and urged him to withdraw his purported endorsement of Alhaji Tukur Modibbo as the party’s governorship candidate.
Nkereuwem Effiong
The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Alhaji Suleiman Omar, has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over the reported replacement of his candidacy, insisting that only the court can determine who represents the party in the 2027 election.
Omar, who addressed a press conference in Yola on Friday, accused Atiku, the ADC’s national leader, of interfering in the party’s affairs and urged him to withdraw his purported endorsement of Alhaji Tukur Modibbo as the party’s governorship candidate.
He said his replacement was contrary to the outcome of the party’s governorship primary, which he claimed was conducted under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission and witnessed by party members and the public.
According to Omar, he won the primary while Modibbo came second, after which his name was submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate.
He said he had subsequently approached the court to prevent INEC or the ADC from substituting his name pending the determination of the case.
“The relevant court processes have been duly served on INEC and the party, at both national and state levels,” Omar said, adding that Atiku had been informed of the legal action.
The embattled candidate argued that the outcome of a primary election could not be overturned by an individual, regardless of his political influence or position.
He said allowing political leaders to disregard the votes of party members would undermine democratic principles and replace due process with “impunity”.
Omar therefore called on Atiku to refrain from actions that could interfere with the legal process, stressing that the dispute should be resolved through lawful and democratic means.
He maintained that he remained the legitimate ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa until the court ruled otherwise.
“Democracy means that the people choose, and that their choice must be respected. Adamawa ADC members have made their choice,” he said.
Omar urged ADC members and his supporters to remain calm while the matter was before the court.
Asked what he would do if he eventually lost the party’s ticket, he said he would wait for the court’s final decision before deciding his next political move. Omar was replaced last month by Tukur Modibbo as the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
