The African Democratic Congress in Jigawa State has been urged to settle its internal disputes as party chieftain Nasiru Laraba warns that the Peoples Democratic Party could take advantage of the situation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Laraba raised the concern during a Hausa political programme on Freedom Radio Dutse on Saturday, pointing to growing support for the PDP in the state.
He cited the turnout at the inauguration of the PDP’s 45-member governorship campaign council on Friday as a sign that the party remained a strong political force.
He said, “We saw what happened at the inauguration of the PDP campaign council. The turnout was massive, and that shows PDP is still very strong. That emergence is a threat to ADC.”
According to Laraba, unresolved disagreements within the ADC have weakened its position and created divisions among party members across the state’s 27 local government areas.
He accused some party leaders of allowing personal interests to take priority over the party’s unity and progress.
One major source of disagreement, he said, was the controversy surrounding the deputy governorship candidate. Laraba explained that the party and its governorship candidate had supported Aminu Ringim for the position, while the Independent National Electoral Commission had published a different name on its final candidate list.
“This deputy governor issue is yet to be resolved by the party. We have two faces now, and INEC has already posted one name, but our candidate remained silent. This is a confusion,” Laraba stated.
The ADC chieftain also expressed concern over the party’s failure to resolve differences with some of its founding members, particularly Adamu Jumbo.
Jumbo, who helped establish the ADC in Jigawa, contested the party’s governorship primary but lost to Sabo Nakudu. Laraba said the party had yet to reconcile with him and his supporters.
“Adamu Jumbo is a founding father. He brought ADC to Jigawa. He contested and lost to Sabo Nakudu, but up till now nobody has reconciled him. His supporters are angry,” he said.
He noted that although Jumbo had neither defected nor challenged the outcome in court, dissatisfaction among his supporters could affect the party’s unity.
“Jumbo has not fought the party; he did not go to court, he did not leave. But his people are not happy, and we have abandoned him.”
Laraba maintained that the unresolved disputes were putting the ADC in a difficult position as political activities intensified ahead of the 2027 polls.
He called on the party’s national and state leadership to address the disagreements, reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen the party before the elections.
He warned that failure to do so could give the PDP an advantage in Jigawa.
“If we don’t fix our house now, this PDP candidate will be a big threat to us. We must unite or we will lose before the election.”
