By Suleiman Ahmad
The National Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged irregularities and injustice in the party’s primary elections.
ADC Youths Raise Concerns Over Primary Elections
The demand was made during a press conference addressed by the ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, who accused the party’s national leadership of allegedly undermining internal democracy by replacing candidates who emerged through duly conducted primaries with individuals who did not participate in the electoral process.
According to the youth wing, the alleged irregularities are particularly pronounced in Kano State, which it described as a strategic political stronghold for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Group Cites Alleged Candidate Replacement in Kano
The group cited the case of Ambassador Abdurrahman Mai Nasara Salga, who reportedly won the ADC primary election for the Dala Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat after what it described as extensive grassroots mobilisation and personal investment in the party.
The youths alleged that despite his reported victory, his name was subsequently removed from the party’s list by the national leadership.
They also alleged that Balarabe Rufa’i, who emerged as the ADC’s senatorial candidate for Kano Central, has yet to have his name forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s official candidate despite reportedly winning the primary election.
Youths Accuse Party Figure of Interference
The youth wing further accused a senior ADC figure, Naja’atu Bala, of allegedly interfering with the outcome of House of Representatives primaries in several local government areas of Kano State.
According to the group, the names of some successful candidates were allegedly removed, while it was claimed that no primaries had been conducted in the affected constituencies, leaving the seats vacant on the list submitted to INEC.
The youths alleged that such actions amount to deliberate sabotage of the party’s growth and electoral prospects in Kano State.
Group Seeks Atiku Abubakar’s Intervention
The group appealed to the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other key stakeholders to urgently intervene in the matter and resolve the internal crisis.
They said the intervention was necessary to restore confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes and prevent the alleged disputes from affecting the ADC’s electoral prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The youths warned that Kano remains central to the ADC’s national electoral ambitions and that failure to address the grievances could erode the party’s support base and weaken its chances in the 2027 elections.
ADC Youths Demand Resignations
Describing the situation as a failure of leadership, the youths maintained that the continued replacement of candidates who emerged through the primary process with what they termed “handpicked” individuals could have serious consequences for the party.
“We are calling on Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola to resign immediately in the interest of justice and the survival of the party,” the youth leader said.
The group added that party members who worked to build the ADC should not be denied the benefits of a transparent and credible nomination process.
They called on the party leadership to address the allegations, restore fairness, and uphold the principles of internal democracy in the selection of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
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