Kebbi ADC aspirant threatens to resign over alleged injustice

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) aspirant for the Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza Federal Constituency, Bashar Abubakar Shehu, has warned that he may resign from the party if the alleged injustice done to him during the House of Representatives primary is not reversed. The aspirant—whose father, Abubakar Shehu, was the campaign Director-General for General Aminu Bande, the PDP’s […]

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) aspirant for the Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza Federal Constituency, Bashar Abubakar Shehu, has warned that he may resign from the party if the alleged injustice done to him during the House of Representatives primary is not reversed.

The aspirant—whose father, Abubakar Shehu, was the campaign Director-General for General Aminu Bande, the PDP’s governorship candidate in the last election in Kebbi State—described the handling of the primary by the state party leadership as “open robbery.”

Briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi at the weekend, Shehu explained that he was leading the primary election when officials abruptly ordered that the process be stopped.

He said they subsequently declared his opponent, who was lagging far behind in the votes already counted, as the winner.

“The primary election was a sham, a direct affront, and a setback to democracy in the state,” he said.

“This is a party leadership that has been clamoring for youth inclusion, yet they chose to deny young people the opportunity to participate fully in a democratic election,” he added.

He further alleged that delegates were still on the queue when counting was suddenly halted under the guise that the exercise would resume later.

“We were waiting when an associate of the acclaimed winner, acting on the instructions of the party leaders, simply declared him the winner,” Shehu said.

The aspirant noted that he is strongly considering leaving the party because he has no confidence in its internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

“I contacted the appeal committee, but they were not ready to listen to me, which confirms that justice will not be accorded to me,” he stated.

Shehu added that after concluding ongoing consultations with relevant political stakeholders, he would make his final decision on whether to resign, maintaining that the ADC is insincere about giving young people a genuine platform to contest.