A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Democratic Congress (ADC), Hawwah Abdullahi Gambo, has petitioned the party’s leadership and election tribunal over alleged irregularities during the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency primary election held on May 25, 2026 in Kaduna.
In the petition dated May 27, 2026, and addressed to the ADC National Chairman, Director of Political Matters, National Women Leader, and the party’s Elections Petitions Tribunal, Gambo alleged that the exercise was marred by manipulation, voter intimidation, vote-buying, and procedural violations.
The female aspirant, who said she was the only woman among four contenders for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat in Kaduna State, alleged that her name was deliberately removed from the list of aspirants in Chikun Local Government Area.
According to her, electoral officers allegedly informed some of her supporters that she had stepped down from the race, while others were told she failed the screening process or was not an aspirant at all.
Gambo further claimed that election materials arrived several hours late, forcing party members to wait from about 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. before distribution commenced at various wards.
She also alleged that voting centres in several wards within Chikun Local Government were relocated without prior notice or adequate communication, resulting in confusion among party members and supporters.
“The location of centres in several wards in Chikun LG was arbitrarily moved without reason, notice nor clear communication as to where the election is holding,” the petition stated.
While acknowledging that there was “a semblance of an election” in Kajuru Local Government Area, the aspirant alleged that the process was characterised by vote-buying, intimidation, harassment, and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Gambo maintained that there was effectively no credible primary election for the House of Representatives ticket in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, describing the exercise as “a manipulative process done at the expense of the people’s will and freedom of choice.”
She called on the party’s election petition tribunal to investigate the conduct of the primary, particularly in Chikun Local Government Area, and ensure justice and due process.
The petition was supported by several party members and ward officials from Chikun and Kajuru local government areas, including local party executives and ward chairmen listed as witnesses.
Gambo also appealed to the party leadership to uphold the ADC’s principles of gender inclusivity, equal opportunity, and fair play.
“The ADC is a party that was built on the principles of gender inclusivity, equal opportunity and fair play. These are values that must be maintained if the ADC will stand the test of time,” she stated in the petition.
