From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been thrown into tension following a protest by stakeholders in Numan over the conduct of the House of Representatives primary for the Demsa, Numan and Lamurde Federal Constituency.
The protest, which took place on Sunday at the APC secretariat in Numan, attracted aggrieved aspirants, youths and women groups who accused the party leadership of manipulating the primary process.
The demonstrators alleged that the exercise was rigged in favour of Barrister Kwamoti La’ori, whom they described as a longtime ally of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No to Imposition,” “Let the People Decide,” and “Democracy Must Prevail,” the protesters insisted that no credible primary election took place.
They alleged that an unpopular candidate was imposed on the constituency against the wishes of party members.
The aggrieved stakeholders directed their anger at Governor Fintiri, accusing him of betraying the trust of the people of Adamawa South by allegedly backing an undemocratic process despite his political influence in the Southern Senatorial Zone.
Many of the protesters argued that the zone had remained a political stronghold of the governor, warning that rewarding loyalty with what they described as an “electoral heist” could fracture the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Youth and women leaders who addressed the gathering warned that the APC risked losing significant support in the constituency if the outcome of the primary was not reversed.
They urged party leaders to act swiftly to restore confidence among grassroots members.
One of the protesters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the people had supported the current administration because they believed in justice and fairness, but noted that the conduct of the primary had undermined that trust.
Among the aggrieved aspirants were Usoko Ken and Vrati Nzonzo, who rejected the outcome of the exercise outright.
They described the process as lacking transparency and credibility, insisting that their grievances were not driven by personal ambition but by the need to protect the integrity of the APC.
The aspirants noted that they had invested time, resources and political capital in mobilising support across Demsa, Numan and Lamurde local government areas, stressing that they deserved a level playing field rather than what they termed a predetermined outcome.
The protesters further warned that if the dispute was not addressed, APC candidates could face rejection by voters in the constituency during the 2027 general elections.
They called on both the national and state leadership of the APC to cancel any allegedly imposed list and conduct a fresh primary election that would be free, fair and transparent.
Despite their grievances, the aspirants maintained that they remained loyal to the APC and would seek redress through constitutional and peaceful means, stressing that their goal was to safeguard internal democracy within the party.
The protest adds to the growing controversies surrounding the APC primaries in Adamawa State, with several stakeholders in other constituencies also questioning the conduct and outcome of the exercise.
Political observers say the development has placed the unity of the party under pressure months ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the leadership faces the challenge of balancing party interests with the demands of grassroots members who feel sidelined.
