A fresh crisis has erupted in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State as key stakeholders and party executives from state and local chapters on Sunday openly rejected the leadership of Bello Isiyaku. They declared their support for Umar Muhammad Faruk as the rightful state chairman of the party.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the NUJ Press Centre in Sokoto, the ADC State Secretary, Yusuf Abdulkadir Alkali, explained that Isiyaku had been suspended before the 2023 general elections due to disputes linked to his governorship ambition on the party’s platform.
Alkali stated that the party’s national leadership, led by Ralph Nwosu, had already ratified Faruk’s position as chairman during its national convention in Zaria in September 2022. He insisted that Isiyaku’s current claim to the position is invalid.
“At our last meeting, which was attended by 25 executive members, 18 voted to reaffirm Mr. Umar Muhammad Faruk as chairman. Any attempt to bring Bello Isiyaku back into the structure is unconstitutional and unacceptable,” Alkali said.
He further accused some party elders of encouraging division within the Sokoto chapter but stressed that the majority of members remain loyal to Faruk and to the decisions of the national leadership.
“The state executive committee has unanimously resolved to reject Bello Isiyaku’s claim and reaffirm our loyalty to Hon. Umar Muhammad Faruk,” Alkali added.
