The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been plunged into crisis after the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee overturned the earlier declaration of Isa Mohammed Ashiru as its governorship candidate and affirmed Shuaibu Idris Mikati as the winner of the primary election.
The decision has deepened uncertainty within the opposition party and raised questions about the credibility of its candidate selection process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Announcing the committee’s verdict, Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Dr. Muhammed Mustapha Fagge, a retired Comptroller of Immigration, said Mikati emerged as the valid winner after securing the highest number of lawful votes cast during the governorship primary.
Fagge said the committee reviewed petitions filed by aggrieved aspirants and examined documentary evidence, field reports and submissions from all parties before reaching its decision.
According to him, the panel unanimously upheld Mikati’s victory and found evidence of irregularities and fraudulent practices involving some of the governorship aspirants.
The ruling effectively reverses the outcome earlier announced by party officials, which had recognised Ashiru, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, as the ADC flag bearer.
The conflicting declarations have exposed divisions within the party and could trigger further disputes among party stakeholders.
Political analysts say the development may lead to legal challenges unless the party leadership moves quickly to clarify its position and resolve the dispute.
Beyond the governorship contest, the committee also ruled on several petitions arising from federal and state legislative primaries across Kaduna State.
It affirmed the victories of Tukur Salisu Kakeyi in the Zaria Federal Constituency primary and Muhammed Mahmoud Aliyu in the Soba Federal Constituency contest, stating that both candidates secured the highest number of valid votes.
However, the panel declared several primaries inconclusive and ordered reruns in constituencies where it found significant irregularities and procedural violations.
In the Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, a fresh primary was ordered after the committee found that Ibrahim Danlami Kubau, a duly screened aspirant, had been omitted from the ballot.
The committee also directed a rerun in Kaduna South Federal Constituency, citing the absence of credible evidence that elections were conducted across all wards in the constituency.
Additional reruns were ordered in affected wards and constituencies across Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi.
Fagge said the decisions were intended to protect the credibility of the party’s nomination process and strengthen internal democracy.
The committee also ruled on the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary, stating that any attempt to adopt a consensus or affirmation arrangement would be invalid unless all parties involved gave their consent.
“Our decisions were reached strictly on the basis of facts, evidence and the provisions of the party’s guidelines. The committee remains committed to protecting the integrity of the ADC’s internal democratic process and ensuring that the will of party members prevails,” Fagge said.
The ruling leaves the Kaduna ADC facing one of its most significant internal disputes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, with uncertainty now surrounding the party’s authentic governorship candidate.
