Adamawa ADC faces crisis over alleged gov candidate swap

Crisis has erupted in the Adamawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over an alleged plan to replace the party’s governorship candidate, Suleiman Umar, with Abduralman Haske.

Following growing concerns over the reported replacement plan, the 21 local government chairmen of the ADC in the state declared their support for Umar after a closed-door meeting with the governorship candidate at Mama Chare Hotel, Karewa GRA, Yola, on Saturday night.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Abubakar Audu, the ADC chairman in Girei Local Government Area, told journalists that the party remained firmly behind Umar, who he said emerged through direct primaries.

“We today pass a vote of confidence on the party’s acting chairman, Mr Sadiq Dasin, and our governorship candidate, Suleiman Umar,” he said.

Asked about reports that Umar would be replaced by Haske, Audu said the matter was only being discussed at the national level and that the state chapter had not been informed.

“That is an Abuja issue. We in Adamawa ADC are not involved, and nobody has contacted us. As far as we are concerned, there is nothing like that; it is just a rumour,” he said.

However, a top ADC chieftain in Adamawa, who spoke with Arewa Punch on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, claimed that plans had already been concluded to replace Umar as the party’s governorship candidate.

“Suleiman is fully aware. He attended a meeting in Abuja where the national leaders explained why the party wanted to replace him with Haske ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the source said.

The chieftain alleged that Umar was asked at the meeting to disclose the amount he had spent on his campaign so it could be refunded to him.

“He said at the meeting that he would think about it and get back to the national leaders,” the source added.

He further alleged that Umar returned to Yola the following day and mobilised the local government chairmen to pass a vote of confidence in him and the acting caretaker committee chairman, Sadiq Dasin, after learning about the development.

The ADC chieftain said the reported plan to replace Umar was based on Haske’s political structure across the 21 local government areas of Adamawa.

He added that Haske’s advantage was also linked to his origin from the state’s largest senatorial district, which has nine local governments, and the fact that the ADC presidential candidate and a serving senator contesting from the zone could strengthen the party’s chances.

“Suleiman is from the same senatorial district as the APC governorship candidate, Tijani Galadima, and it is the smallest senatorial district. The party is considering how many votes can come from there to win the election,” he said.

Meanwhile, findings by Arewa Punch indicate that the alleged decision to replace Umar came after the All Progressives Congress picked Adamu Kamele, from the northern senatorial district, as its deputy governorship candidate, while the Labour Party selected Senator Ishaku Abbo, also from the same zone, as its governorship candidate.