Adamawa 2027: Plot To Stop Haske's Ambition Thickens As Fear Of Soaring Popularity Grips Ruling Party

By; SUNDAY MORKA

A scorched earth, high stakes plot by an Adamawa All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and a member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's kitchen cabinet to stop the governorship ambition of Abdurrahman Bashir Haske, the candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) by all means, has thickened, information obtained by this paper revealed.

Investigations revealed that the Tinubu's kitchen cabinet member has been losing sleep following the defection of Abdurrahman Haske to APM to realize his governorship ambition after a sore and distasteful outing in All Progressives Congress (APC).

Information obtained by this paper revealed that the plot to stop Haske followed the in road and massive popularity of his governorship ambition which constitute serious threat to the governorship drive of Tijjani Galadima.

Haske who is the youngest governorship candidate, contested the highly disputed and controversial governorship primaries of APC which returned Tijjani Galadima, a former executive secretary of PTDF as the governorship candidate of the party.

In the face of the party's failure to redress his grievances over the conduct of the disputed primaries, Haske dumped APC for the APM, a decision many see as a last resort and his strong determination to challenge the APC juggernaut.

Sources told our reporter that since his defection, Haske has been getting unwavering support from strong APC chieftains including Walin Ganye, Alh. Mohammed Sadiq, Mansur Toungo, former deputy governor, Martins Babale, former Speaker of Adamawa State, Kabir Mijinyawa, former chairman of PDP, Barr A.T. Shehu and a lot others who pitched tent with him. 

It is said that Haske's ambition is causing serious grassroot ripples as his drive has gained strong currency especially among women and youth demography in the state.

This paper learnt that some APC chieftains in Adamawa who latched on INEC to disqualify Haske and others,  are now using other back-door tactics to get him out of the contest come what may.

They are said to have scripted a number of strategies, including influencing the Supreme Court to interpret its last judgment on the issue of the electoral reforms in order to deny Abdurrahman and others who switched political parties the grounds to contest the general elections. But the sole target of the plot, is Haske,  this paper exclusively gathered.

Our reporter also learnt that these forces are also exploring the idea of using the EFCC to frighten some INEC officials with questionable backgrounds to soft pedal and remove "those candidates who failed to comply with the new electoral reforms."

On this ground, the APC chieftain was said to have written to the electoral umpire to implement his directive even though he knows disqualifying candidates is outside the mandate of INEC.

Some top-notch Adamawa APC stakeholders, who confided in our reporter that the plan to target politicians who switched bases on account of deep reservations or those who defect to other political platforms over injustice is real. 

"Although many names have been targeted, the main target is Abdurrahman Haske because of his strong standing, chances and his deep determination and commitment to exercise his constitutional right regardless of the preferences of the power brokers.

"While the main target of the plot is Haske, but in order to deflect people from understanding the real scheme, other names have been brought into the mix.

"But what the schemers fail to understand is that leaving Haske in the race is to their own advantage because he is going to contest for the same votes with their candidates. With that situation, the ruling party has a chance of making a headway in the election.

"But once his name is removed Haske will surely support some of the most popular candidates like Maurice Vunobolki and Haj. Aishatu Dahiru Binani. Once that happens, it is a complete and total defeat for APC as the party can't manage or change the wide margin of victory that will manifest as it did in the party primaries.

"I can tell you that with his strong standing, if Vunobolki gets 30 per cent support of Muslim votes from Haske, he will win this election with landslide. And on the other hand, if he decides to pitch his tent with Binani because the two are mortal enemies of the APC, Binani will surely win the polls with a landslide.

"The schemers should not fail to ignore the grave consequences of what they are trying to do because it will become the last push for the eternal death of APC in Adamawa," a source whom pleaded anonymity said.

The APC chieftain noted that such situation will only worsen the already bad state of things in APC Adamawa State chapter which is already facing diminishing value.

He noted that some of the problems include, financial challenges following the failure of governor Fintiri to release funds for the campaign of the governorship candidate and the possibility of anti-party activities by a large number of disenchanted party men and women who have vowed to work against the party in the general election.

There are speculations that the governor who was humiliated and forced to bring an enemy from within, will stop at noting in frustrating the candidature of Galadima. 

He is said to be currently working closely with the candidate of the PDP whose loyalty to him was not in doubt and in whose leadership, Fintiri's safety and interests will be religiously protected and at the same time fulfilling his covenannt with ethinic nationalities in bringing one of their own as governor in 2027.

Sources told this paper that the governor, a renowned ally of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike who is also contesting the Adamawa North Senatorial Zone is more aligned with Wike's idea of a rainbow coalition, whose aim is to only ensure the success of the president election, while pursuing other interests in other elections.

Sources in the ruling party say based on his body language, Fintiri is more aligned to the success of PDP candidate than he is with the candidate of the APC, citing the failure of the governor to provide funding to the governorship campaign of the candidate of his party, while secretly and actively supporting Vunobolki's ambition.

"It is rather curious that the campaign train of the governorship candidate of our party is beset by serious funding gaps. A lot of those who are supporting the system from their pockets are becoming disenchanted and weary, while the foot soldiers are looking for other options because they say politics is not a religious obligation that you must fulfil will all righteousness.

"Apart from the internal challenges and dissatisfaction militating against our governorship candidate, lack of funding is another serious set back. So unless a magic happens, we are going into an election without unity, coordination, funding and direction. Despite that we may be facing a more united enemy if some of the candidates decide to work together," the source disclosed.