A trending social media report alleging that six gubernatorial candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are protesting the appointment of a party leader for the North Eastern Zone has sparked controversy, with the affected leader dismissing the protest as a charade orchestrated by a female governorship aspirant in Adamawa State.
In a press release made available to newsmen, the party leader stated that Professor Mohammed Sani Yahaya and Dr Babayo Ardo of Taraba and Gombe States respectively have dissociated themselves from the protest, claiming their names and signatures were inserted into the document without their authority or knowledge.
The leader described the protest as a matter of no concern to him, noting that his recruitment into the party and appointment as National Leader of the North East and North Central Zones were decisions of the party’s National leadership. He explained that no formal offer was made to him, nor did he request the appointment before it was announced, adding that he accepted it in good faith as a mark of respect for Senator Dickson, Mr Obi, and Kwankwaso, all of whom he holds in high regard.
He further stated that he regards the position as a holding one, based on prior discussions with the party’s formal leadership and other leading patriots across the country who insisted he rejoin the top leadership team of the Peter Obi campaign team, where he served as 2023/24 Chairman of the Planning, Strategy and Implementation team comprising twelve eminent Nigerians.
The statement alleged that the protest is being led and organized by a female pretender to the governorship candidacy of Adamawa State, whom he accused of playing a script to deny the ethnic nationalities of Adamawa a platform to contest for the governorship ticket. He claimed that almost all contestants in the 2027 election in the state — 25 House of Assembly, 8 House of Representatives, 3 Senate, and the governorship candidate herself — were nominated by her, with all forms and expression of interest fees paid by her.
He further alleged that during his visit to Adamawa State between August 25 and September 10 this year, he saw no evidence of NDC activity in any of the 21 Local Government Areas, aside from one tattered poster in Gombi belonging to a female House of Representatives candidate.
The leader expressed confidence that the Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket enjoys a massive, unassailable lead in the North East and North Central zones, suggesting that rival parties may have planted moles within the NDC at levels as high as gubernatorial candidates to sabotage the ticket. He accused the protesters of working for Atiku from within the NDC as subversives, adding that they have now exposed themselves and that voters in the North East have taken note.
He called on all NDC members and supporters in the North East to ignore what he described as the antics of fifth columnists and to focus on delivering all party candidates to victory. He reminded the so-called gubernatorial candidates that the campaigns will not be about them alone, noting that there are House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats across six states to contest, all of which would benefit from the popularity of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
He described it as the height of arrogance for six individuals to arrogate to themselves the right to decide who joins or leads the party, expressing conviction that many of the candidates, especially those from Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Borno States, will win their elections simply because of his entry into the NDC and the influence, experience, and resources he will bring to the campaigns.
The statement urged Nigerians to prepare to vote and monitor the electoral process diligently, from sorting and counting at polling units to collation at various centers, until final results are tallied and announced. It advised voters to carry lunch boxes to polling stations on Election Day, noting that they may not return home until past midnight.
The leader declared that there will be no alteration of results or announcement of changed figures in the election, adding that moles will be rendered redundant.
The statement was signed with the initials “BD.”