ADC Primaries Stall In Jigawa, Aspirants Cry Foul In Niger, Akwa Ibom

By Abu Nmodu, Minna, and Iniobong Ekponta, Uyo

Confusion and uncertainty have continued to trail the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship primaries in Jigawa State as the party failed to conclude collation and declare winners more than 48 hours after the exercise began, amid allegations of irregularities, violence threats, and internal disputes.

The prolonged collation process, which began on Monday, dragged into the early hours of Wednesday before being suspended, leaving delegates and party supporters stranded at the collation centre in Dutse, the state capital.

Chairman of the ADC Electoral Committee in Jigawa State, Zaki Ahmed, announced the suspension at about 1:45 a.m. at Tahir Hotel, where collation was ongoing, stating that results had been received from only 19 of the 27 local government areas in the state.

He said the committee was still awaiting results from Kaugama, Auyo, Kazaure, Gwiwa, Hadejia, and Gwaram, while citing irregularities and security concerns in several areas.

According to him, Babura, Hadejia, and Gwaram recorded incidents of irregularities, including threats of violence and malpractice, while no election was held in Guri Local Government due to factional clashes.

Ahmed said the collation would resume after Eid prayers, after which a winner would be declared.

The delay heightened tension among party members, particularly over the fiercely contested governorship race between Hon. Adamu Jumbo and Senator Sabo Nakudu, whose supporters disputed results from several local government areas.

Findings showed that pending results from Roni, Auyo, and Kazaure remained contentious, while several areas were placed under scrutiny following allegations of malpractice.

In Guri LGA, clashes between rival factional groups reportedly disrupted voting entirely, preventing the exercise from holding.

In a related development, an ADC aspirant for the Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency in Niger State, Barrister David Yisa Ndako Gbadafu, has alleged manipulation and bribery in the collation of results from the party’s primary election.

Gbadafu said the announced result declaring Mohammed Abubakar (Abacon) as winner did not reflect the will of delegates, insisting that figures from the local governments were altered at the state level.

He also alleged that there were inducements involving some party officials, calling for intervention by the national leadership to prevent escalation of tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His campaign coordinator, Jibrin Saidu, further claimed that the returning officer initially announced 9,000 votes for Gbadafu before revising it to 6,000, describing it as evidence of manipulation.

The campaign threatened peaceful protests if the outcome is not reviewed, while urging the party to preserve internal democracy and unity in the constituency.

In Akwa Ibom State, ADC governorship aspirant Barr. Mfon Udeme Peter rejected the outcome of the primary election, alleging widespread disenfranchisement and irregularities.

The party had declared former Minister of State for the FCT, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, winner of the exercise conducted through a direct primary across the 31 local government areas, where he reportedly scored 66,099 votes against Peter’s 103.

However, Peter dismissed the result as “concocted,” alleging that elections were not conducted in several local government areas and that many party members were denied participation.

He claimed the process violated party guidelines, adding that agents were excluded and result sheets were not properly signed.

Peter said he had filed a petition before the party’s Appeal Committee and warned that he would pursue legal action if the matter is not resolved internally.