ADC crisis deepens in Katsina state as party disowns ‘Illegal’ congress

By Musa Baba Adamu with agency report

Fresh internal tensions have emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State following the conduct of a parallel congress by some party members, an exercise the party’s official committee has declared null and void.
Chairman of the state congress committee, Atiku Abubakar-Saleh, told journalists in Katsina on Tuesday that the exercise carried out earlier in the day lacked legal backing and contravened the party’s constitution.
According to him, the committee overseeing the congresses was duly constituted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct a transparent and credible process across the state.
He explained that preparations for the congresses were in line with a recent court ruling that cleared the party to proceed, adding that the officially recognised schedule fixes ward and local government congresses for Wednesday, while the state congress is slated for Thursday.
Abubakar-Saleh noted that the NWC had also approved key sub-committees, including a screening panel headed by Dr Sulaiman Maiyawo, to ensure strict compliance with party guidelines.
He maintained that only the congress committee and the screening committee have the authority to conduct party activities in the state, warning that any parallel exercise remains “null, void and of no consequence.”
The ADC chieftain described the unauthorised congress as an attempt to undermine party unity and due process, urging members and stakeholders to disregard such gatherings and support the officially sanctioned exercise.
He further called on security agencies to stay alert and prevent any breakdown of law and order linked to unauthorised political activities.
Abubakar-Saleh reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to delivering a peaceful and credible congress in line with directives from the party’s national leadership.