Forum Rejects Choice Of ADC Guber Running Mate In Kaduna

A group under the auspices of Southern Kaduna Political Forum has opposed the nomination of Irimiya Kantiyok as running mate to African Democratic Congress (ADC) Kaduna State governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru ahead of the 2027 polls.

Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, the convener of the forum, Comrade Boniface Ishaku Kambai, explained why they also opposed the ADC governorship candidate, alleging that the choice of Ashiru and Kantiyok were influenced by the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

According to the forum, the selection of the deputy governorship candidate did not emerge from broad-based consultations with critical stakeholders, community leaders, youth groups, and other political actors from Southern Kaduna.

He lamented that instead, the selection “reflects the preference of a few individuals, a development that falls short of the democratic values of consultation, inclusiveness, and collective participation. Consequently, we reject the nomination in its entirety.

“The Southern Kaduna Political Forum wishes to express its profound concern over recent political developments within the Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), particularly the emergence of Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan as the party’s governorship candidate and the subsequent nomination of Hon. Irimiya Kantiyok as his running mate.

“Our Forum firmly believes that the selection of the deputy governorship candidate did not emerge from broad-based consultations with critical stakeholders, community leaders, youth groups, and other political actors from Southern Kaduna. Rather, it reflects the preference of a few individuals, a development that falls short of the democratic values of consultation, inclusiveness, and collective participation. Consequently, we reject the nomination in its entirety.

“The Southern Kaduna Political Forum further notes that a significant number of stakeholders and youths across the region have openly expressed serious reservations regarding the nomination of Hon. Irimiya Kantiyok.”

Reacting to the forum’s claim, ADC Publicity Secretary, Kagarko local government area, Darius Kurah, said the group has no right to oppose the nomination of a political party.

Kurah, who is also elected Kaduna State ADC publicity secretary awaiting inauguration, queried how a group could reject a nomination from a political party. “I feel that by law, a group has no right to reject a candidate by a political party. It is only the political party that has the right to nominate or to vote a candidate who should represent them in an election.

“If a group can reject a candidate of the ADC, does it mean they can also reject the governorship candidate of the APC or a candidate of another party? A group has no right to reject a candidate a political party has elected through primaries. Also the group has no right to reject a running mate,” Kurah said.