A leadership crisis has emerged in the Sokoto State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after a faction of the party rejected the return of Bello Isiyaku as state chairman. At a press conference on Sunday, the faction’s state secretary, Yusuf Abdulkadir Alkali, reaffirmed Hon. Umar Muhammad Faruk as the recognized chairman in the state. Alkali explained that Isiyaku had been suspended before the 2023 general elections due to internal disputes over his governorship ambitions on the ADC platform, and therefore he cannot claim the chairmanship.
Alkali noted that Faruk’s leadership was ratified by the party’s national body, led by Ralph Nwosu, during its national convention in Zaria in September 2022. In a recent meeting attended by 25 members of the state executive committee, 18 voted in favor of reaffirming Faruk as chairman. Alkali described the attempt to reinstall Isiyaku in the party’s leadership structure as unconstitutional and unacceptable, accusing some party elders of fueling division while emphasizing that the majority of members remain loyal to Faruk and the national leadership.
The state executive committee has unanimously resolved to reject Isiyaku’s claim and has restated its loyalty to Faruk. This development highlights ongoing internal conflicts within the ADC, which has been experiencing leadership challenges nationwide. The party’s national body has previously taken steps to address such disputes, and it remains to be seen how it will respond to this latest crisis. With the national leadership already having ratified Faruk’s position, the Sokoto State chapter is likely to face further challenges as it navigates the dispute, a situation that will be closely monitored by party members and observers alike.
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