Adamawa ADC supporters protest alleged plans to replace governorship candidate Omarana, insisting the 2027 ticket must be respected after the party primary.
The crisis surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship ticket in Adamawa State has intensified after supporters of Ambassador Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, staged another protest over alleged moves to replace him ahead of the 2027 election.
The protesters, under the platform of the Adamawa Forward Political Organisation, gathered at the ADC state secretariat in Yola on Monday, demanding that the party uphold the outcome of its governorship primary election.
The demonstration was the second protest by supporters of Omarana within less than a week, highlighting the growing tension surrounding the ADC governorship ticket in Adamawa State.
The protesters insisted that Omarana remains the legitimate candidate produced by the party’s primary election and should be allowed to contest the 2027 Adamawa State governorship election.
They warned that any attempt to substitute him after his emergence through the party’s internal electoral process could create further divisions within the ADC and undermine the confidence of party members and supporters.
The latest protest came only days after another demonstration held on July 22, when supporters raised concerns over alleged efforts to replace Omarana with another candidate.
Speaking during Monday’s protest, Joshua Buba, secretary of the Adamawa Forward Political Organisation, said Omarana’s emergence was the product of a democratic process that should be respected by the party.
Buba maintained that the candidate had secured the ADC governorship ticket through the appropriate process and should not be removed through what he described as behind-the-scenes arrangements.
“Ambassador Omar Suleiman remains our duly elected governorship candidate,” Buba said.
He further cautioned against alleged attempts by individuals to influence the party’s decision for personal interests, urging the ADC leadership to protect the integrity of its primary election.
The protesters also alleged that the reported move to replace Omarana was being coordinated outside Adamawa State, particularly from Abuja.
However, the allegation has not been independently verified, and the individuals allegedly behind the purported plan were not publicly identified by the protesters.
The controversy has continued amid the apparent silence of the ADC leadership in Adamawa State.
The party’s state chairman, Sadiq Dasin, has not publicly addressed the allegations, while other members of the state executive have also yet to issue a detailed statement on the dispute.
The lack of an official position from the state leadership has further fuelled uncertainty over the future of the ADC governorship ticket as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election begin to gather momentum.
Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, has also been mentioned in speculation surrounding the controversy, although the protesters did not directly accuse him of masterminding any alleged plan to replace Omarana.
Atiku’s camp has since denied any involvement in the matter.
Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president’s media aide, reportedly described the allegations as baseless, insisting that Atiku had neither convened any meeting concerning the replacement of the Adamawa governorship candidate nor issued any directive to that effect.
The denial has added to the ongoing debate over the ADC governorship ticket in Adamawa, with supporters of Omarana continuing to demand clarity from the party leadership.
For the protesters, the issue goes beyond the candidacy of one individual. They believe that respecting the outcome of the primary election is essential to maintaining internal democracy and preventing further divisions within the party.
The growing disagreement comes at a critical period for the ADC, which is expected to intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
Internal disagreements over its governorship candidate could potentially affect the party’s mobilisation efforts and political structure in Adamawa if the dispute remains unresolved.
Omarana’s supporters have therefore urged the ADC leadership to publicly reaffirm his candidacy and put an end to what they described as uncertainty surrounding the party’s ticket.
As the controversy continues, attention is now focused on the Adamawa State chapter and the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress for an official clarification on the status of Omar Suleiman as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
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