By| Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
Party stakeholders allege manipulation, imposition, and desperation as ADC faces growing questions over credibility ahead of 2027 elections
The political atmosphere in Kogi Central has become increasingly charged following the controversial African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary election, with allegations of manipulation, political desperation, and internal compromise threatening to overshadow the party’s democratic image.
At the center of the storm is Kabiru Onimisi Attah, an aspirant for the House of Representatives seat representing Okehi-Adavi Federal Constituency, whose recent political movements and emergence in the disputed primary have sparked intense reactions among party stakeholders and concerned members.
According to aggrieved ADC members, the controversy goes beyond a simple primary election dispute. Many believe it reflects a deeper crisis within the party — one that raises troubling questions about integrity, transparency, and the true meaning of democracy when political ambition becomes more important than due process.
Party stakeholders accused Kabiru Attah of pursuing what they described as a “desperate search for political relevance,” citing his movement across multiple political parties within a short period.
Records recalled by concerned members indicate that Attah initially declared his House of Representatives ambition under the APC in January 2026, reportedly banking on support from influential figures within the ruling structure.
However, after allegedly discovering that the political equation within the APC was unfavorable to his ambition, he reportedly resigned from the party through a letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Kuroko Ward.
Shortly afterward, he moved through another political platform before eventually joining the ADC on April 26, 2026 — barely weeks before the party’s primary election.
His sudden emergence within the ADC and rapid acceptance by a faction in Adavi Local Government immediately triggered suspicion among long-standing party members, many of whom argued that established structures and internal consultations were ignored.
The crisis deepened after allegations surfaced that former Senator Ahmed Salau Ogembe, alongside some party officials, allegedly interfered with the Kogi Central primary process by hijacking electoral materials and frustrating genuine party members from participating in voting exercises across several wards.
Aggrieved stakeholders alleged that the entire process was carefully orchestrated to impose preferred candidates while denying ordinary party members the constitutional right to freely choose their representatives through a transparent and credible democratic process.
Some party members further alleged that the crisis formed part of a broader political strategy designed to destabilize the ADC in Kogi Central ahead of the 2027 general elections, weakening the party’s ability to produce strong and credible candidates capable of challenging dominant political forces in the state.
The disputed declaration of Kabiru Onimisi Attah as winner of the controversial primary has therefore continued to generate outrage among party faithful, many of whom insist that no legitimate primary election took place in several wards on the scheduled date.
Critics argue that no democratic mandate can command public trust when it emerges from allegations of manipulation, exclusion, and internal division. According to them, any aspirant seeking public office must first demonstrate commitment to transparency, fairness, and respect for internal party democracy.
The controversy has also raised concerns about the ADC’s credibility before the general electorate, especially as the party positions itself as an alternative political force in Kogi State.
Stakeholders warned that democracy cannot survive where political maneuvering replaces popular participation, insisting that leadership imposed through controversy risks rejection both within the party and among voters.
For many observers, the ongoing Kogi Central ADC crisis is no longer just about party tickets or political ambition. It has become a defining moment that will determine whether the ADC truly stands for justice, accountability, unity, and democratic responsibility.
Concerned stakeholders are now calling on the party leadership to launch a transparent investigation into the allegations, address grievances raised by members, and restore confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes before the situation further damages the ADC’s image ahead of future elections.
— Story filed by Concerned ADC Stakeholders
