From Joseph Adahnu, Yola
Hundreds of African Democratic Congress (ADC), supporters staged a peaceful protest in Yola recently over an alleged plan by party bigwigs to replace the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
The protesters, drawn from several local government areas, marched along Mohammed Mustapha Way and other major streets in the state capital. They displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Respect Party Democracy,” “Omarana Is Our Candidate,” and “No to Candidate Substitution.”
The demonstrators rejected what they described as moves to substitute Ambassador Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, as the ADC governorship candidate for Adamawa State.
Chanting party slogans and solidarity songs, they insisted that the mandate given to Suleiman must be respected. They warned that any attempt to alter the outcome of internal party processes would be resisted through lawful means.
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Some spokespersons who addressed journalists accused unnamed individuals of attempting to manipulate the party structure for personal interests. They said such actions could undermine party unity and weaken the ADC’s chances in the 2027 polls.
The protesters called on the ADC national leadership to clarify the situation and reaffirm its commitment to transparency, fairness, and internal democracy. They also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure strict compliance with electoral guidelines on party nominations.
They appealed to security agencies to remain neutral and protect citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. The demonstration, they noted, was orderly and devoid of violence.
As of the time of filing this report, no incidents of violence or disruption of public order were recorded. The protesters, however, warned that failure to address their concerns could trigger further actions, though they pledged to remain peaceful and open to dialogue.
The group said it would continue to mobilize support and explore legitimate channels to defend what it called the collective will of ADC members in Adamawa. They urged party stakeholders to act swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader internal crisis.
