The crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa State worsened on Monday as a faction of the party rejected a recently held state congress, describing the exercise as illegal and unconstitutional.
Addressing journalists in Dutse, the state capital, the factional chairman, Hon. Kabiru Husaini Narumbu, said those who conducted the congress lacked the authority to do so.
“The said congress is illegal, and the executives produced are illegitimate,” he declared.
Narumbu explained that the party had earlier announced the postponement of the congress and formally notified key stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
According to him, no new date had been fixed for the exercise.
“The party had communicated the shift of the congress to all stakeholders. As it stands, no date has been agreed upon or fixed,” he said.
He further disclosed that prior to the postponement, the State Executive Committee had adopted a consensus arrangement for the congresses.
“After extensive consultations, the State Executive Committee unanimously adopted the consensus model. However, due to issues affecting the party, the congresses were postponed indefinitely,” Narumbu added.
The faction said notifications of the postponement were sent to security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as party stakeholders across the state.
Narumbu attributed the decision to postpone the congress to the lingering leadership crisis at the national level, citing ongoing disputes involving factions loyal to David Mark and Nafi’u Bala.
He said efforts to stabilise the party led to the intervention of a forum of state chairmen, which dissolved the factions and set up a caretaker arrangement.
However, he accused those behind the disputed congress of acting outside established party structures.
“What they held was merely a gathering of a few individuals without legitimacy. They neither notified nor involved the party caucus,” he said.
The faction urged party members and the public to disregard the outcome of the congress, insisting that only the recognised structure of the party remains valid.
Despite the internal wrangling, Narumbu said the ADC remains focused on building a united front capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in future elections.
He also called on aggrieved members to put aside personal interests and work towards the unity and progress of the party.
“Our actions are in the interest of the party and Nigerians. We urge all members to align with the legitimate structure to achieve our collective goals,” he said.
Efforts to reach members of the opposing faction were unsuccessful, as calls to some of the newly announced executives went unanswered. Similarly, attempts to contact ADC chieftain Hon. Abba Anas Adamu, a member of the party’s registration and revalidation committee, were not successful as of the time of filing this report.