2027: Adamawa APC elders warn Tinubu of defeat over imposition claim

The Adamawa State Central Senatorial Zone Elders of the All Progressives Congress have said that President Bola Tinubu may not win the 2027 presidential election in the state if the alleged imposition of candidates is not addressed.

The spokesperson for the Central Senatorial Zone Elders, Mohammed Jimeta, stated this at a press conference on Thursday in Yola.

Jimeta said the political setback suffered by the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015 as a result of alleged candidate imposition could also occur in the APC if similar issues are not addressed.

“In 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP chieftains sat in Abuja and appointed the present National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, as the governorship candidate, but the people of Adamawa State voted for the person they wanted as governor,” he said.

“The President himself knows that Mustapha Salihu did not contest for the Senate; he contested for governor. It was Abdulraheem Abbati who contested for the Senate in the Central Senatorial Zone. So, how can Salihu become the senatorial candidate in the zone?” he asked.

Jimeta said that, in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, the senatorial ticket should be given to Yola North aspirant Abbati.

“All the local government areas in the Central Senatorial Zone have produced a senator: the late Senator Jibrin Aminu from Song Local Government Area, Senator Bello Tukur from Fufore Local Government Area, Senator Aishatu Binani from Yola South Local Government Area, Senator Abubakar Girei from Girei Local Government Area, and Senator Iyya Abbas, the serving senator from Hong Local Government Area.

“Salihu and Senator Abbas are from the same local government area, so why is the APC showing bias against the people of Yola North? A few individuals are trying to deny Abbati the ticket,” he said.

The group urged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to protect the President’s votes in Adamawa State, pointing out that it would mobilise against the party if the perceived injustice in the Central Senatorial Zone is allowed to stand.

“There will be two losers—the Adamawa State APC governorship candidate and the President. To avert the looming political setback, the issue should be addressed now.

“Abbati was the returning officer for President Tinubu in Shelleng Local Government Area, even when some enemies of the APC in Adamawa State were working secretly against him,” he stated.