Sh*ck In Jigawa ADC: Aspirant Rejects Primary Election, Drags Outcome To Appeal Committee

A governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa State, Bashir Adamu, has challenged the outcome of the party’s primary election, alleging widespread irregularities, bias and undue interference in the process.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Adamu, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency, submitted a petition to the State Election Appeal Committee, demanding the cancellation of the exercise and the conduct of a fresh primary election.

He alleged that the process that produced Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu as the ADC governorship candidate was compromised by violations of party guidelines, interference from party officials and acts of intimidation.

The ADC recently conducted primary elections across the country to select candidates for various offices ahead of the 2027 general elections. In Jigawa State, voting took place across the 27 local government areas, with the results announced two days later by the primary election committee led by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ahmed Zaki.

According to the committee, a total of 55,476 valid votes were cast during the exercise. The results showed that Adamu secured 19,537 votes, while Nakudu polled 35,939 votes to clinch the party’s governorship ticket.

However, in a petition dated June 3, 2026, Adamu described the exercise as flawed and lacking transparency.

He claimed that the entire process was marred by irregularities, breaches of party regulations and undue influence by party leaders. He further accused the chairman of the primary election committee of abandoning neutrality by allegedly acting on instructions from the party’s State Executive Committee.

Adamu argued that the declaration of Nakudu as the winner did not reflect the genuine wishes of party members who participated in the exercise.

The former lawmaker also accused the State Executive Committee of actively working to ensure Nakudu’s emergence as the party’s candidate. He alleged that party officials at both state and local government levels manipulated the process through their handling of election materials.

According to him, delays in the distribution of voting materials, particularly in the North-West Senatorial District, disrupted the exercise and disenfranchised many party members who reportedly left after waiting several hours without accreditation.

He further alleged that the delays created opportunities for manipulation, claiming that political thugs loyal to his opponent seized election materials and fabricated results in favour of their preferred candidate.

Adamu also cited incidents of violence and voter intimidation in several areas, which he said led to the cancellation of voting in four local government areas and rendered the primary inconclusive.

He maintained that such actions undermined democratic principles and violated the rights of party members. He also questioned the legitimacy of the results announcement, insisting that only the duly constituted primary election committee had the authority to declare the outcome.

Consequently, he urged the appeal committee to nullify the election and order a fresh primary, arguing that the exercise breached ADC guidelines as well as provisions of the Electoral Act.

Reacting to the development, the Jigawa State Chairman of the ADC, Muhammad Gumel, called for calm among aggrieved party members and appealed to Adamu and other dissatisfied stakeholders to remain committed to the party.

Gumel described Adamu as a respected political figure and elder statesman within the ADC and Jigawa politics, urging him to accept the outcome in good faith.

He noted that disagreements are common in competitive elections and should not be allowed to create divisions within the party.

According to him, while those who lose elections may naturally have grievances, the party remains committed to treating all members fairly and supporting whoever emerges through its established processes.