File: The embattled Adamawa State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Alhaji Suleiman Omar
The embattled Adamawa State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Alhaji Suleiman Omar, has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to stay off the party’s activities in the state.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Yola, Omar said his purported replacement announced by Atiku was unconstitutional, insisting that he remained the authentic governorship candidate of the party.
“I have read with shock the statement attributed to former Vice President and national leader of the ADC, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, purportedly presenting Alhaji Modibbo as the ADC gubernatorial candidate for Adamawa State.
“Ordinarily, such a post might have been dismissed as another episode of political mischief. Coming, however, from a former Vice President, a presidential candidate and national leader of our party and a man who publicly identifies himself as a democrat, it assumes a gravity that cannot be ignored.
“I therefore respectfully but firmly call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to withdraw the said post and refrain from any action capable of undermining the lawful process already undertaken by the party and that is currently before the court.
“Leadership demands restraint, fairness and respect for due process, particularly from those who aspire to lead the country. The mandate belongs to the people who gave it. It cannot be appropriated by an individual,” he warned Atiku.
Omar said he remained the duly elected governorship candidate of the ADC in Adamawa State and could not be replaced in an undemocratic manner.
“The party’s governorship primary was conducted under the supervision of INEC and was witnessed by party members and the general public. I emerged victorious, while Alhaji Modibbo came second. In consequence, my name was duly submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate.
“I sought from the court an injunction restraining INEC from accepting any substitution of my name by the party or any person.
“The relevant court processes have been duly served on INEC and the party, at both national and state levels, and I have it on good authority that the former Vice President has been formally briefed by the party of my action,” he said.
He added, “Until the court determines otherwise, no individual—regardless of his position, influence or stature—has the legal or moral authority to rewrite the result of a primary election or substitute his personal preference for the expressed will of party members.”
Omar said, “If the votes of party members can simply be overturned with fiat after an election has been conducted by those who are supposed to be the guardians of those votes, then we are not building democracy; we are replacing it with the very impunity that Nigerians have repeatedly rejected.”
He called on all members of the ADC, supporters in Adamawa State and the Nigerian public to remain calm, vigilant and resolute.
“We shall continue to defend our mandate through lawful and democratic means and shall not allow the will of the people to be defeated by political manipulation,” he added.
Omar pointed out that “democracy means that the people choose—and that their choice must be respected. Adamawa ADC members have made their choice; it is left for our political leaders to respect it or disregard it.”
Answering questions on his next step if he lost the ADC’s ticket, he said, “I wait until the court takes its final decision, then I can decide my next move.”
Omar was last month replaced by Alhaji Tukur Modibbo as the governorship candidate of the party in Adamawa State.
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