The legal dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State has deepened, with three aggrieved party members denying allegations that they are being sponsored to undermine the party’s governorship candidate, Abubakar Chika Malami.
The three members — Abubakar Sadiq Sa’adu Fakai, Muhammad Umar and Nafiu Bello Shuwa — are challenging their alleged replacement after they claimed to have won the party’s legally conducted primaries.
In a statement signed by the three aspirants on Saturday, they described allegations that they were working against Malami or the ADC as “fictitious” and “baseless”, insisting that their legal action was aimed at reclaiming what they described as their stolen mandates.
The dispute comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with Kebbi State already witnessing growing competition and realignment among political parties and their candidates.
Aggrieved ADC Aspirants Reject Allegations
The three politicians said they were not fighting Malami, the ADC or any individual, but were pursuing legal remedies over what they alleged was an unlawful alteration of the outcome of the party primaries.
“For clarification sake, we are not fighting Malami, ADC or anybody, but we remain undeterred in our legal struggle to reclaim our stolen mandates by the alleged forgers in our party whom we believe are not after the success of our party,” they said.
Fakai, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the allegations of sponsorship would not discourage them from pursuing their case through the courts.
He maintained that as persons who claimed to be the valid candidates emerging from the party process, they had the right to seek judicial redress in accordance with Nigerian law.
Fakai Accuses Party Actors of Forging Documents
Fakai further alleged that affidavits and other documents had been forged in an attempt to create the impression that the affected candidates voluntarily withdrew their candidatures.
He argued that if established, such conduct would go beyond an internal party disagreement and could amount to a criminal offence.
However, the allegations remain claims by the aggrieved aspirants and have not been independently established by The Bureau Journal.
The development highlights the growing importance of internal party processes as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections. Across Nigeria, disputes over primaries, nominations and candidate substitutions have continued to generate legal challenges and political disagreements.
‘We Are Not Working Against Malami’
The three aspirants also rejected claims that their court action was intended to weaken the chances of Malami, the ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi.
Fakai argued that those accusing them of working against the party could themselves be contributing to the crisis by attempting to prevent the aggrieved members from pursuing their legal rights.
He said the group remained committed to the ADC and its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while insisting that their disagreement was centred on the handling of their candidatures.
The Bureau Journal recently reported on Atiku Abubakar’s campaign position on economic and trade issues, including his pledge to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and revive southern ports if elected. The issue forms part of the wider policy debate surrounding the ADC’s 2027 political campaign.
Kebbi Politics Enters Another Competitive Phase
The dispute within the ADC is unfolding against the backdrop of increased political activity in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has also been consolidating its political structure in the state. The Bureau Journal previously reported that APC stakeholders endorsed Governor Nasir Idris for another term, highlighting the strength of the ruling party’s political machinery in Kebbi.
Governor Nasir Idris has also been engaging traditional rulers as part of preparations for the next electoral cycle. His visits to traditional institutions were reported in Kebbi political activities intensify as Nasir Idris seeks royal backing for 2027.
The state’s political environment has also been shaped by internal party disputes. Earlier in the year, the Kebbi APC suspended its state chairman and Zuru Local Government chairman following complaints from party stakeholders.
Such developments demonstrate that internal disagreements are not limited to one political platform as parties navigate candidate selection, leadership structures and preparations for the next elections.
Legal Challenge Could Shape ADC’s Kebbi Campaign
The outcome of the ongoing legal challenge could have implications for the ADC’s structure and campaign strategy in Kebbi if the dispute remains unresolved.
Party unity will be particularly important as political organisations seek to consolidate their structures ahead of the 2027 elections. The ADC is part of a broader opposition realignment that has placed Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures at the centre of Nigeria’s emerging 2027 political contest.
The Bureau Journal’s guide to Nigeria’s 2027 elections provides wider context on the evolving political landscape, including the opposition coalition and changes affecting the electoral process.
The ADC’s internal dispute also comes amid wider political realignments across the country. The Bureau Journal previously examined how politicians associated with Atiku’s political network have been moving across party lines in its report on Atiku-linked politicians finding new political ground in Kogi APC circles.
Aggrieved Members Reaffirm Loyalty to ADC
Despite their disagreement with some individuals within the party, Fakai and his colleagues reaffirmed their loyalty to the ADC, Atiku Abubakar and what they described as lawful members of the party.
They said their continued legal action should not be interpreted as an attempt to destabilise the party, maintaining that they were seeking justice through the appropriate legal channels.
The dispute is now expected to be closely watched by political stakeholders in Kebbi as the courts consider the issues surrounding the contested candidatures.
Until the relevant legal proceedings are concluded, the allegations of forgery, unlawful replacement and sponsorship remain contested claims by the aggrieved aspirants.
The Bureau Journal will continue to monitor developments in the Kebbi ADC dispute and the wider political preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.
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