By Abubakar Yunusa
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate for Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Jeremiah Badoji has denied reports circulating on various platforms claiming that he has withdrawn from the February 2026 election of the Council.
Badoji, in a statement issued to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, described the news and substitution as “false, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”
“I wish to state categorically that I did not and will never withdraw from the February 2026 race, and as such, will never be substituted by anyone,” he declared.
Badoji said he emerged as the ADC’s legitimate candidate following a transparent and duly conducted primary election held on June 28, 2025.
He further affirmed that the primary was monitored and certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in accordance with the electoral guidelines.
Reacting to reports that one Usman Jiya had replaced him as the ADC flagbearer, Hon. Badoji dismissed the claim as baseless, clarifying that Jiya is not even a member of the ADC.
“The Usman Jiya mentioned in the announcement is not even a member of ADC. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he contested, failed woefully, and then dragged his party and INEC to court,” Badoji noted.
He accused Jiya of attempting to sow confusion within the ADC ranks while facing unresolved legal issues with his former party.
“Rather than face his court case, Usman, who may be contemplating joining another party, is misinforming people just to cause unnecessary confusion in ADC,” he added.
Hon. Badoji called on his supporters and constituents to remain calm and disregard what he described as “desperate antics” by political opponents seeking to hijack the party’s platform.
“I am in this race to win and to serve my people meritoriously. Our great party, ADC, is fully aware of these antics and will not allow them to succeed,” he affirmed.
The chairmanship election for Kwali Area Council is scheduled to take place in February 2026.
