The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Alhaji Suleiman Omar, has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to stay away from the party’s activities in the state.
Omar accused Atiku of attempting to undermine the outcome of the party’s governorship primary.
Omar made the demand on Friday in Yola while addressing a press conference, following reports that his name had been replaced with that of Alhaji Tukur Modibbo as the ADC candidate for the 2027 Adamawa governorship election.
He rejected the purported substitution, insisting that he remains the legitimate candidate of the party because he emerged winner of the primary conducted under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Omar’s comments came after Atiku, who is the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, was reported to have presented Modibbo as the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa.
“I have read with shock the statement attributed to former Vice President and national leader of the ADC, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, purportedly presenting Alhaji Modibbo as the ADC gubernatorial candidate for Adamawa State,” Omar said.
He said the development would ordinarily have been dismissed as political manoeuvring, but argued that Atiku’s position and political experience made the matter too serious to ignore.
“Ordinarily, such a post might have been dismissed as another episode of political mischief. Coming, however, from a former Vice President, a presidential candidate and national leader of our party and a man who publicly identifies himself as a democrat, it assumes a gravity that cannot be ignored,” he said.
Omar therefore urged Atiku to withdraw the statement and avoid taking steps that could interfere with the legal process already initiated over the dispute.
“I therefore respectfully but firmly call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to withdraw the said post and refrain from any action capable of undermining the lawful process already undertaken by the party and that is currently before the court,” he said.
According to him, political leaders, especially those seeking to govern the country, should respect due process and the decision of party members rather than impose their personal choices.
“Leadership demands restraint, fairness and respect for due process, particularly from those who aspire to lead the country. The mandate belongs to the people who gave it. It cannot be appropriated by an individual,” Omar warned.
The governorship aspirant explained that the ADC primary was conducted with INEC officials present and witnessed by members of the party and the public. He said he defeated Modibbo in the exercise and that the party consequently submitted his name to INEC as its candidate.
“The party’s governorship primary was conducted under the supervision of INEC and was witnessed by party members and the general public. I emerged victorious, while Alhaji Modibbo came second. In consequence, my name was duly submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate,” he said.
Omar disclosed that he had already approached the court to prevent any attempt to replace his name while the dispute remains unresolved.
“I sought from the court an injunction restraining INEC from accepting any substitution of my name by the party or any person,” he said.
He added that the relevant court processes had been served on INEC and the ADC leadership at both the national and state levels. Omar also claimed that Atiku had been formally informed about the legal action.
Omar maintained that the result of an election could not simply be overturned by an individual, regardless of the person’s political influence.
“Until the court determines otherwise, no individual—regardless of his position, influence or stature—has the legal or moral authority to rewrite the result of a primary election or substitute his personal preference for the expressed will of party members,” he said.
He warned that disregarding the outcome of the primary would undermine the democratic principles the ADC claims to uphold.
“If the votes of party members can simply be overturned with fiat after an election has been conducted by those who are supposed to be the guardians of those votes, then we are not building democracy; we are replacing it with the very impunity that Nigerians have repeatedly rejected,” Omar said.
The embattled candidate called on ADC members, his supporters and Nigerians to remain calm as the legal battle continues, promising that he would pursue the matter through lawful channels.
“We shall continue to defend our mandate through lawful and democratic means and shall not allow the will of the people to be defeated by political manipulation,” he added.
Omar further argued that the decision of Adamawa ADC members during the primary should be respected by the party’s leadership.
“Democracy means that the people choose—and that their choice must be respected. Adamawa ADC members have made their choice; it is left for our political leaders to respect it or disregard it,” he said.
Asked what he would do if the court eventually rules against him and he loses the ADC ticket, Omar said he would wait for the judicial process to be concluded before deciding his next political move.
“I wait until the court takes its final decision, then I can decide my next move,” he said.
Omar was replaced last month by Modibbo as the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State
The dispute comes as Atiku steps up his campaign for the presidency under the ADC. The former vice president, who served in government as vice president between 1999 and 2007, has defended his decision to seek the presidency again despite concerns about his age.
In an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday, Atiku also claimed that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old, saying he has evidence to support the allegation and would present it in court if necessary.
“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” Atiku said.
He later added, “You have a President who is 90 years old now and sick and I am healthy and strong. So why won’t I make myself available to serve my country?”
“You went and voted for someone who is 90 years old. I have evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old and I will present it in court,” he said.
Atiku is seeking to return to the presidential ballot in 2027 after previous attempts to become president, including his candidacies under the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019 and 2023.
