By Umar Dankano,Yola.
A fresh political crisis has engulfed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State following allegations that,some bigwigs within the party are pushing hard to replace the party’s governorship candidate, Ambassador Engineer Omar Suleiman,Omarana.
The ADC Protesters in their numbers staged a peaceful protest in Yola, the Adamawa state capital on Wednesday registering their dismay over alleged move to replace their party’s gubernator ial hopeful for the 2027 general elections.
They converged in the early hours of the day and marched through various locatio ns including major roads and public insti tutions displaying different placards with inscriptions such as “No to candidate su bstitution”,”Respect Party democracy” and Omarana is our candidate” among many others.
The protesters insisted that Omarana remains the legitimate flag bearer of the ADC in Adamawa State calling on the party’s national leadership to resist what they described as “external interference and uphold the outcome of the party’s primary”.
Speaking on behalf of the protestors, Masu Umar, Chairman of Frontier Movement, Nationwide said that any attempt to substitute the candidate could destabilize the party ahead of the governorship election, urging stakeholders to respect internal democratic processes
Umar insisted that the mandate given to their preferred candidate must be respected, stressing that any attempt to alter the outcome of internal party processes would be resisted through lawful means.
Corroborating the same position, a stalwart and ADC woman leader,Miss Damaris Yalawa urged the party leadership to ensure that Omarana is allow to contest for the governorship position because he was the one they elected through a recognized electoral process.
Yalawa urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict compliance with electoral guidelines governing party nominations warning that any attempt to change the will of the people will not be accepted.
Another party supporter, Hajiya Alisha Hamisu advised that the party is facing trying moment which needs to be tackle with caution in the interest of the people and the party considering the forthcoming election in 2027 .
Hamidu expressed displeasure with the development saying it may affect the chances of the party of not addressed on time calling on all stakeholders to assist in ensuring peace and harmony prevails in the affairs of the party.
The demonstrators also warned that failure by relevant authorities to address their concerns promptly could lead to further actions, though they reiterated their commitment to peaceful engagement and dialogue.
They vowed to continue mobilising support and exploring legitimate channels to defend what they described as the collective will of ADC members in Adamawa State, while urging party stakeholders to act swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader internal crisis.
Political observers in the state are of the view that the uproar may not be unconnected with the fued between former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Former SGF David Lawan Babachir over the party’s control in the state even before the emergence of Former Vice president as the presidential candidate of the party and the clinching of the gubernatorial candidacy of Ambassador Omar Suleiman Omarana
