POLITICS
Omarana Accuses Atiku of Backdoor Move to Substitute ADC Governorship Candidate
From Yagana Ali, Yola
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, Ambassador (Engr.) Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, has strongly condemned what he described as an alleged attempt to replace him as the party’s governorship candidate through the backdoor.
Omarana, who addressed journalists in Yola at the weekend, expressed outrage over the alleged role of former Vice President and national leader of the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in moves to recognise another aspirant, Modibbo Tukur Ribadu, as the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
He insisted that he remains the duly elected candidate of the party following the governorship primary election, warning that no political leader, regardless of influence or national standing, has the right to overturn the decision freely made by party members.
The controversy followed an alleged statement or post attributed to Atiku, which reportedly presented Ribadu—who Omarana said emerged second during the party’s governorship primary—as the ADC candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State.
Omarana said he was particularly disturbed that Atiku, whom he described as a prominent political figure who has consistently projected himself as an advocate of democracy and popular participation, could be linked to what he termed an attempt to override the will of party members.
According to him, the development was not merely a disagreement over political ambition but a serious test of the credibility of the democratic process within the party.
The ADC candidate maintained that the governorship primary election in Adamawa State was conducted in the presence of party members and other stakeholders, with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supervising the process.
He said he emerged victorious at the end of the exercise, while Modibbo Tukur Ribadu came second, adding that his name was subsequently submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate in accordance with the outcome of the primary election.
Omarana stressed that a mandate freely given by party members through a recognised electoral process could not be withdrawn or transferred based on the preference of any powerful political figure.
In a move aimed at preventing what he described as an unlawful substitution, Suleiman disclosed that he had approached the Federal High Court to seek judicial protection over his candidature.
He said the legal action was intended to restrain INEC from accepting any purported attempt to replace his name with that of another aspirant pending the determination of the matter by the court.
According to him, the relevant court processes had already been served on INEC as well as the ADC at both the national and state levels.
He further claimed that the former Vice President had been formally informed about the pending legal action, insisting that all parties should therefore exercise restraint and allow the court to determine the issues before it.
Omarana warned that any attempt to alter the outcome of the primary election before the conclusion of the legal process would amount to a disregard for due process and an assault on the democratic rights of the party’s members.
He called for the immediate withdrawal of the alleged post presenting Ribadu as the ADC governorship candidate, urging the party’s national leadership and other influential political actors to avoid actions capable of further escalating the controversy.
The former diplomat and engineer said the unfolding controversy had raised fundamental questions about internal democracy and the extent to which the decisions of ordinary party members are respected within political parties.
He argued that leadership must be founded on fairness, restraint and respect for established rules, particularly by political leaders who present themselves as champions of democratic governance.
According to him, the governorship ticket of the ADC is not a personal property that can be allocated at the discretion of influential politicians or political godfathers.
Omarana appealed to members and supporters of the ADC across Adamawa State to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that he would continue to pursue the matter through lawful and democratic means.
He expressed confidence that the rule of law would prevail, insisting that the outcome of a properly conducted primary election must be respected.
Suleiman added that the controversy had placed a major responsibility before the leadership of the ADC, questioning whether the party would uphold the verdict of its members or allow political influence and personal preference to override the collective will expressed at the primary election.
As the dispute continues, Omarana said his focus remains firmly on defending what he described as the mandate freely entrusted to him by members of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State.
From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo
The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday charged newly inaugurated members of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere to deploy their experience and political networks for effective grassroots mobilization, wider public engagement, and strong support for Aare Asejere.
Governor Adeleke gave this charge while speaking at the official Inauguration of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere, at Adebimpe event hall, adjacent Osogbo City Stadium, along Ikirun Road,Osogbo.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said, the campaign council committees should intensify grassroots mobilization from now till Election Day.
Governor Adeleke admonished entire people of Osun Central Senatorial district to see themselves as one and remain under the umbrella of the Accord while they should continue to demonstrate their unalloyed love and support for Aare Asejere for him to emerge as the next Senator for the area in January 2027.
“I am appealing to you all my dear people to extend the same love you gave me in the just concluded Governorship election in Osun State to Alhaji Asejere in the forthcoming election as he must be in the Red Chamber by January 2027 by the power of the Almighty God” Governor Adeleke stressed.=
Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun and a current Commissioner in Osun, Hon Bunmi Jenyo, while inaugurating the committee, charged them to be up and doing and work towards the victory of Aare Asejere in the coming election.
“The committee should make sure our Accord candidate for Osun Central Senatorial district wins the Senatorial election to the Senate as Aare Asejere’s Senatorial ambition is a round peg in a round hole towards the development and betterment of the people”.
The Chairman of the Campaign Committee and Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as well as the Director-General of the Asejere Campaign Committee and the incumbent Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, while speaking congratulated Aare Asejere in advance saying, nothing will stop his emergence as Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district in the coming election by God’s Grace and people’s support.
Also the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande enjoyed the newly inaugurated committee for the emergence of Aare Asejere to see the assignment as a task which they should not take with levity.
“Our man, Aare Asejere has been tested, he has never been found wanting, he’s a man of his word and he is a complete grassroots politician who loves to develop people, let us join hands together and support his ambition”, Pastor Akande said.
Responding, Aare Asejere who was highly elated for seeing large numbers of people from far and near promised not to let the people of Osun Central Senatorial district down, adding that he will ensure he involves the whole people in his performance while his representation will be meaningful.
Aare Asejere once again called on the people of Osun Central to vote him in as the Senator representing the district assured that he will not fail them.
He appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke in absentia, his deputy, the SSG, Bobagunwa Igbalaiye, Oluomo Alimi, Yeye Dupe-Sanni, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Egbedun, Hon Abesin, Hon
Funso Ishola, party leaders, members of the Accord, community leaders, Iyaloja-General and her team, Oluomo Rasaki, Hon Adigun Olaide, among others.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.
The call followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rep.
Kafilat Ogbara, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked every October 11th.Ogbara, while moving the motion, decried the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices against the girl child.
She called on government at all levels to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.
The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, in adopting the motion, also urged governments at all levels to ensure that every girl child has access to education, and quality healthcare.
The theme for the 2026 commemoration siught to reaffirm commitment to ending child marriage and upholding the fundamental rights of every girl child.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to an inclusive electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a training programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tella noted that persons with one form of disability or another constitute an important segment of the society.
He said such individuals are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards the development of the country.
He said: “The commission recognises that electoral inclusion goes beyond permitting PWDs to register and vote.
“It also involves ensuring that they have access to reliable electoral information, understand electoral procedures, can access polling units and are able to participate in other aspects of the electoral process.”
Tella said the commission would provide relevant assistive devices such as magnifying glasses, Braille guides and posters for voters with hearing impairments at polling units to give Persons with Disabilities a more pleasant voting experience on election days.
He added that INEC guidelines and regulations provide that priority should be accorded to PWDs at polling units without them having to wait in long queues during voting.
He further said that eligible PWDs would be engaged and trained as ad-hoc staff during the elections.
The REC explained that the objective of the commission was to ensure that eligible PWDs in the state were not discouraged, excluded or prevented by avoidable barriers from exercising their franchise during the elections.
He further asserted that “democracy is stronger when every eligible citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in shaping its future.”
He urged PWDs across the state to cooperate with the commission to remove avoidable barriers, promote electoral awareness and encourage peaceful participation.
The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oluwaranti Abiodun, commended INEC for giving special consideration to PWDs ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Abiodun urged the electoral body to give priority to the plights of Persons with Disabilities when planning its activities towards the conduct of the elections.
He demanded that more consideration should be given to eligible PWDs who are interested in working as ad-hoc staff.
He also called on members of the association to support INEC and be ready to perform their civic responsibilities during the 2027 elections. (NAN)
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