Three aggrieved candidates of the African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State have alleged that documents claiming they voluntarily withdrew their candidacies were forged, as they denied allegations of a plot to undermine the party’s governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami.
The candidates, who are challenging their alleged replacement in court after emerging from the party’s primaries, insisted on Saturday that their legal battle was not directed at Malami or the ADC but at reclaiming what they described as their stolen mandates.
The candidates Abubakar Sadiq Sa’adu Fakai, Muhammad Umar and Nafiu Bello Shuwa said they remained committed members of the party and insisted that their legal battle was aimed at reclaiming what they described as their stolen mandates.
The trio are currently challenging in court their alleged replacement after emerging as candidates in the party’s primaries.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the aggrieved candidates described allegations that they were being sponsored to create a crisis within the ADC and work against Malami’s political ambition as baseless.
They also alleged that some members of the party forged affidavits and other documents purportedly showing that they had voluntarily withdrawn their candidacies.
“For clarification’s sake, we are not fighting Malami, ADC, or anybody, but we remain undeterred in our legal struggle to reclaim our stolen mandates by the alleged forgers in our party, whom we believe are not after the success of our party,” the candidates said.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Fakai said claims that they were being sponsored to destabilise the party would not stop them from pursuing their cases through the courts.
He maintained that the candidates remained validly elected and were merely exercising their constitutional right to seek redress through lawful channels.
“We are not fighting Malami or the ADC. Our struggle is to reclaim our mandates through legal means,” Fakai said.
The candidates alleged that the controversy surrounding their purported withdrawal went beyond an internal party disagreement, insisting that the alleged forgery of affidavits and other documents constituted a criminal matter punishable under the law.
Fakai also accused individuals claiming to be working in the interest of Malami and the party of taking actions capable of deepening divisions within the ADC and weakening the party ahead of the governorship election.
The aggrieved candidates, however, reaffirmed their loyalty to the ADC and other members whom they described as lawful and committed party members.
They said they remained resolute in pursuing their legal challenges while insisting that their actions were not targeted at Malami or intended to undermine the party’s chances.
The development is expected to further heighten tensions within the Kebbi ADC as the dispute over the party’s candidates continues to play out in court.
