A group of APC elders in Adamawa State has raised alarm over alleged plans to impose a candidate following the postponement of the senatorial primary election in the Adamawa Central Zone, scheduled for Monday. The elders, under the banner of Central Senatorial Zone APC Elders, have directly appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, citing concerns that party leaders in the state are manipulating the process to favour a preferred aspirant. The primary, originally set for Monday, was postponed by the state APC chapter, citing logistical challenges, a move that has drawn skepticism from political observers and party members alike.
The statement announcing the postponement was signed by Victor Dogo, the APC Publicity Secretary in Adamawa State. However, the elders argue that the delay is not due to logistics but a calculated move to buy time and prepare the ground for the imposition of Senator Aminu Iya Abbas. Iya Abbas, who has long been seen as a contender for the governorship, has reportedly shifted his focus to the Senate seat, raising questions about his true intentions and the transparency of the party’s internal processes.
At a press conference held in Yola on Tuesday, Alhaji Mohammed Song, the group’s spokesman, questioned the sudden change in Iya Abbas’s political ambition. “Senator Iya Abbas was contesting for governor. He toured all the local government areas, but after screening of aspirants, we learnt that Abbas is now contesting for Senate, how?” Song asked, highlighting the inconsistency. He further emphasized that Yola North Local Government Area, which has never produced a senator in the current democratic era, had endorsed Alhaji Aliyu Abbati as its preferred candidate. Abbati, according to Song, is the only aspirant who has actively campaigned across all seven local government areas in Central Adamawa.
The elders expressed deep concern that the alleged imposition could undermine the credibility of the APC’s primaries and damage the party’s chances in the upcoming general elections. They warned that if such underhand tactics continue, it could erode public trust and weaken President Tinubu’s support base in the state. Song urged the president to act swiftly to ensure fairness and transparency in the party’s internal elections.
In response, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who leads the APC in Adamawa, has denied any wrongdoing. He maintained that the primary elections so far have been generally credible, attributing any hitches to human error. “The few hitches have been due to human error, which is normal. I believe we have delivered a credible process,” the governor stated. Despite this, the elders remain unconvinced and are calling for independent oversight to safeguard the integrity of the party’s nomination process.
As the APC prepares for its next round of primaries, the tension in Adamawa State underscores the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s political parties in ensuring fair and transparent internal elections. The outcome of this dispute could have lasting implications for the party’s unity and electoral performance in the 2027 general elections.
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