The All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Forum in Adamawa Central senatorial zone has raised alarms that President Bola Tinubu might struggle to secure victory in Adamawa State during the 2027 elections if disputes over alleged candidate imposition are not resolved. The group highlighted that the party risks repeating errors that led to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) downfall in 2015.
Speaking at a news conference in Yola, forum spokesperson Mohammed Jimeta drew parallels with the 2015 governorship race, noting that then-President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP leaders unilaterally selected Malam Nuhu Ribadu as the governorship candidate from Abuja. However, voters in Adamawa rejected that choice and elected their preferred candidate. Jimeta emphasized that similar top-down decisions could backfire for the APC.
Jimeta questioned the emergence of Mustapha Salihu as the party’s senatorial candidate, arguing that Salihu contested the governorship primary, not the senatorial race. He stated, “The president is aware that Mustapha Salihu ran for governor, not the Senate. Abdulraheem Abbati was the one who contested the Senate primary in the central zone. So how did Salihu become the senatorial candidate?”
The elders demanded that the ticket be awarded to Abbati, who they claimed legitimately won the primary for the Senate seat. They also pointed out that several local government areas in the zone have produced senators, but Yola North has never been given the opportunity. “Salihu and Senator Abbas hail from the same local government area. Why is the APC sidelining the people of Yola North? A few individuals are trying to deny Abbati his rightful ticket,” Jimeta added.
The forum called on National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to intervene and prevent what they described as an injustice. They warned that ignoring the issue could harm both the APC governorship candidate and President Tinubu. “Two people will lose: the APC governorship candidate in Adamawa and the president. To avoid this political setback, the matter must be resolved now,” Jimeta stated.
Jimeta also reminded that Abbati worked tirelessly for Tinubu’s victory in the state during the last election, serving as the returning officer for the president in Shelleng Local Government Area even as some APC members worked against him. The elders urged the party leadership to correct the alleged imposition to safeguard future electoral prospects.