Adamawa ADC members protest alleged plans to remove guber candidate

A group of members of the Adamawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took to the streets on Monday to protest an alleged plot to replace the party’s governorship candidate, Omar Suleiman.

Monday’s protest, organised by the Adamawa Forward Political Organisation, was the second over the same matter in less than a week, following a similar demonstration by another group under the auspices of Frontier Movement 774 last Wednesday, July 22.

The protesters, who alleged that those scheming to displace the duly elected party candidate had not relented, warned that they would take their opposition to the alleged plot beyond street protests.

The Secretary of the Adamawa Forward Political Organisation, Joshua Buba, who spoke to journalists covering the protest and claimed that the plot was being perfected at the national level in Abuja, asserted that the plan would fail.

He said, “We warn all those planning replacement to back out. We won’t take it because we can’t see how anyone who never obtained a nomination form, let alone take part in any primary, would become our candidate.”

Asked about linking the alleged candidate replacement plot to Abuja, Buba said, “We know it’s all an Abuja thing, nobody is into such treachery here; but this protest is only a warning. Anyone who goes from here to Abuja to be a part of it should not return to Adamawa. If they think they can bargain our future, they will find how wrong they are.”

As with the previous protest, none of the Monday protesters accused the party’s leader and son of the soil, Atiku Abubakar, of being complicit. This is perceived to be because of the high regard in which the party’s presidential flag bearer is held, despite accusations by some individuals that Atiku is behind the alleged plot against the Adamawa governorship candidate.

Those who hold this view often point to the fact that the embattled candidate, Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, was sponsored for the ticket by the party’s former National Vice-Chairman for the North East, Babachir Lawal, who had been at loggerheads with Atiku before leaving the party earlier this year.

The allegations against Atiku have continued, despite efforts by his camp last week to absolve him following the pro-Omarana protest.

Atiku’s camp, describing the claims as entirely false and baseless, said the former vice-president respects internal party democracy.

Atiku’s media aide, Phrank Shaibu, stressed that Atiku never convened any meeting or directed any candidate replacement.