From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Congress Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has stated that the party’s congresses at the polling unit, ward, and local government levels are ongoing in Adamawa State.
The Chairman of the Congress Committee, General Ishaya Bauka, disclosed this during a press conference in Yola, dismissing rumours of a court order halting the exercise as baseless and “dead on arrival.”
He explained that although a High Court sitting in Yola had earlier issued a restraining order directing the party to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit, the committee had not been served any such order.
The court had fixed April 15 for the commencement of hearing in the case filed by the state chairman of the party, Comrade Shehu Yohanna.
General Bauka insisted that his committee had not received any court order, let alone one stopping the conduct of the congresses in Adamawa State.
“The ADC congresses have commenced across the country, including Adamawa State. It is an ongoing process that will continue until tomorrow.
“As far as my committee is concerned, we have not received any court order stopping our congresses, and the process will continue until results are collated tomorrow,” he stated
However, the state chairman of the party, Shehu Yohanna, maintained that the court had ruled that the process must stop and that the status quo should be maintained until the matter is determined on April 15, 2027.
Yohanna accused some party stakeholders of adopting unjust and undemocratic practices in conducting the ward and local government congresses, lamenting that he was not involved in the process.
He further alleged that the committee had already prepared and doctored a list of preferred candidates to be declared winners in the yet-to-be-conducted congresses.
According to him, the move is being challenged to ensure strict adherence to the party’s constitution.
“This committee did not inform us of the time, venue, or timetable of the congresses. Everything was supposed to be conducted at the state party secretariat, but they moved to a hotel, claiming to be holding the congresses.
“We will challenge this impunity and call on our members to remain calm and law-abiding. We are ready to fight this injustice because the party is supreme above any individual,” Yohanna said.