From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Adamawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been thrown into internal tension as supporters of the party staged a peaceful protest over alleged moves by some influential members to replace the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The protesters, numbering hundreds, marched through major streets in Yola, including Mohammed Mustapha Way, to express their opposition to any attempt to substitute the party’s governorship candidate, Amb. Engr. Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana.
The demonstrators, drawn from various local government areas of the state, displayed placards with messages such as “Respect Party Democracy,” “Omarana Is Our Candidate,” and “No to Candidate Substitution.”
Chanting party slogans and solidarity songs, the protesters insisted that the outcome of the party’s internal process must be respected, stressing that any attempt to alter the mandate given to their preferred candidate would be resisted through lawful means.
Speaking with journalists, some of the protesters accused unnamed individuals of attempting to manipulate the party’s structure for personal interests, warning that such actions could undermine unity and weaken the party’s chances in the forthcoming elections.
They called on the national leadership of the ADC to urgently clarify the situation and reaffirm its commitment to transparency, fairness, and internal democracy.
The protesters also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict compliance with electoral guidelines on party nominations, while urging security agencies to remain neutral and protect citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The demonstration remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or disruption of public order as of the time of filing this report.
The protesters, however, warned that failure by relevant authorities to address their concerns could lead to further actions, although they maintained their commitment to peaceful engagement and dialogue.
They vowed to continue mobilising support and using legitimate channels to defend what they described as the collective decision of ADC members in Adamawa State, urging party stakeholders to act quickly to prevent the situation from escalating into a wider internal crisis.
