Adamawa APC on trial over desperate move to install a puppy as governorship candidate
Despite attaining a remarkable feat of topping the e-registration list in Nigeria, Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set for a woeful outing in 2027 guvernorship election over alleged desperation of a top federal government official to install his puppy as the next governor of the state.
What is currently brewing within the APC in Adamawa State according to multiple sources goes far beyond routine political maneuvering but an attempt on the life of democracy itself.
According to observers what is unfolding is a calculated and systematic attempt to ambush internal democracy and predetermine outcomes long before party members are given a chance to decide.
According to them, at the center of these allegations is a powerful kitchen cabinet of Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose influence within the party and at the national level is well established.
According to multiple accounts, the Tinubu's man Friday is allegedly orchestrating a controversial plan to manipulate the party’s screening process in order to eliminate strong contenders ahead of the gubernatorial primaries.
The ultimate objective, they argue, is to pave the way for his preferred candidate, widely perceived as lacking the political strength to emerge victorious in a free and fair contest.
This unfolding scenario raises a fundamental question and fears that internal party mechanism designed to ensure fairness and credibility are being sharpened as tools for exclusion and imposition.
A Strategy of Elimination
The alleged strategy according to sources is deeply concerning as it was speculated that leading aspirants are to be pressured into stepping down under the guise of “voluntary withdrawal,” or "consensus" arrangement with the implicit threat of disqualification hanging over those who refuse to comply. It is a tactic that seeks to avoid open confrontation while quietly subduing credible competitors.
Among those reportedly targeted are prominent figures such as Abdulrahman Haske, Abdulrazak Namdas, Mustapha Salihu, and Salihu Girei renowned competitors with the grass root appeal to win the contest any time. More importantly, they are seen by many within the party as candidates capable of winning both the primaries and the general election.
Their perceived offense, however, lies in their unwillingness to step aside for what critics describe as a pre-arranged political outcome.
Beyond One Man: A Coordinated Effort
While the Tinubu's ally is widely seen as the face of this alleged scheme, insiders suggest that he is not acting alone. His brother, is reportedly playing a critical behind-the-scenes role in coordinating the effort designing strategies, building alliances, and facilitating negotiations aimed at ensuring the plan’s success.
There are also claims of a broader network of inducements and incentives being deployed to secure compliance. These reportedly include promises of political appointments, patronage opportunities, and even traditional titles, tools often used in Nigerian politics to consolidate loyalty and neutralize opposition.
If true, such actions point to a troubling pattern: the transformation of party politics into a transactional enterprise where public interest is subordinated to private ambition.
Another silent factor: A Line in the Sand
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of this unfolding drama is the reported involvement of the outgoing governor. According to credible accounts, the hatchetman sought the governor's backing during a meeting in Abuja, hoping to secure his support for the proposed disqualification strategy and a broader “consensus” arrangement.
However, in what many have described as a rare and commendable act of political restraint, the governor allegedly bluntly rejected the proposal.
His reasoning, as recounted by insiders, was both pragmatic and principled. As a governor nearing the end of his tenure, he is said to have emphasized the dangers of creating unnecessary political enemies. Imposing a candidate or sidelining legitimate contenders, he reportedly argued, would amount to a grave injustice particularly to those who had invested time, resources, and political capital in rebuilding the party after significant internal challenges.
The governor's stance underscores a critical point: democracy within a political party is not merely a procedural requirement; it is the foundation upon which legitimacy is built.
A Breakdown in Talks
Despite this rejection, reports indicate that the exponent of the imposition remained resolute. Rather than reconsidering the approach, he allegedly doubled down insisting that the “hard way” was the only viable path forward. In what has been described as a tense and ultimately unsuccessful negotiation, the president's ally reportedly sought “covering fire” and blessings from the governor to proceed with the plan. The talks, by all accounts, ended in a deadlock.
Lessons from the Past
Critics alleged that the attempted imposition is dead on arrival as the episode will only mark the repeat of another history filled with repercussions and regrets. It may be recalled that in 2015 governorship race under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the president's ally was accused of exerting excessive control over the party’s nomination process handpicking candidates and sidelining dissenting voices.
The result, they argue, was disastrous. The party suffered a crushing defeat in the general election, losing across multiple levels by overwhelming margins.
For many observers, the parallels between then and now are striking. The fear is that history may be repeating itself, this time with potentially even greater consequences for the APC in Adamawa.
The Binani Factor
Compounding the situation is the looming presence of Senator Aishatu Binani, widely regarded as a formidable political force and a likely contender in the 2027 elections under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Binani’s political strength was demonstrated in the 2023 APC primaries, where she defeated Ribadu and other powerful contenders despite what her supporters described as a heavily skewed process. Her victory underscored her widespread appeal and ability to mobilize support across different demographics.
Against this backdrop, critics argue that the current attempt to sideline strong APC aspirants is not just undemocratic it is strategically flawed and will give Binani a strong leverage to win the governorship election with ease because of the fact that by eliminating credible candidates, the party risks presenting a weak nominee against a well-organized and popular opponent.
A Dangerous Precedent
At its core, the controversy surrounding the APC screening process in Adamawa is about more than individual ambitions. It is about the integrity of political institutions and the principles that underpin democratic governance.
When screening committees are perceived as instruments of exclusion rather than fairness, the entire process loses credibility. When outcomes are predetermined, participation becomes meaningless. And when internal democracy is sacrificed, electoral success becomes increasingly unlikely.
The Stakes for APC—and Beyond
The potential consequences of this alleged plot are far-reaching. Within the APC, it threatens to deepen divisions, alienate key stakeholders, and undermine the party’s cohesion ahead of a critical election cycle.
Beyond the party, it raises broader questions about the health of Nigeria’s democratic system. Political parties are the building blocks of democracy; when they fail to uphold democratic principles internally, the effects ripple outward.
There is also a national dimension to consider. As a leading figure within the current administration, Ribadu’s actions real or perceived carry implications not just for Adamawa but for the image of the party at the federal level. Any fallout from this controversy could have political repercussions extending far beyond the state.
A Moment of Reckoning
Adamawa stands at a crossroads. The choices made in the coming months will determine not only the outcome of the APC primaries but also the party’s prospects in the general election.
Will the party uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and competition? Or will it succumb to the temptation of control, opting for short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability?
The answer to these questions will shape the political future of the state because what is at stake is not merely the ambition of a few individuals, it is the credibility of a system. A political party that silences its strongest voices in favor of a predetermined outcome risks losing not only elections but also the trust of the people it seeks to represent.
If the alleged plot to manipulate the screening process succeeds, the APC in Adamawa may find itself facing a crisis of legitimacy from which recovery will be difficult. No amount of post-primary reconciliation can easily heal the wounds of exclusion and betrayal.
And in the end, the greatest casualty may not be any individual candidate but the very idea of democracy within the party itself.
