Rights group says sidelining Peace Audu threatens democracy, not just Christianity

The ongoing power tussle in Adamawa State’s Fufure Local Government Area has taken a dramatic turn as civil society raises alarm over what appears to be a deliberate attempt to prevent Mrs. Peace Audu, the duly elected Vice Chairman, from assuming office as Chairman following the death of her predecessor, Mr. Shuaibu Babas.
More than a week after the chairman’s death, Mrs. Audu has not been sworn in—a move that the Christian Rights Agenda (CRA) says violates the 1999 Constitution and sends a dangerous signal about the fragility of democratic norms in local governance.
In a statement issued Monday, CRA Secretary General, Rev. Kallamu Musa Dikwa, described the delay not just as a religious slight but as a threat to Nigeria’s rule of law, gender inclusion, and political fairness.
“This is not merely about faith. It is about a woman—duly elected—being blocked from stepping into a role mandated by the Constitution. When laws are suspended to suit identity politics, democracy suffers,” he warned.
Sources within Adamawa allege that powerful interests—including traditional leaders—have vowed to prevent a Christian woman from leading the local council. But activists argue the issue goes far deeper, reflecting a systemic resistance to women and minorities holding real power in northern Nigeria.
“Adamawa is a state where women have fought hard to have a voice in governance. Now that one has earned her place, she’s being pushed out. What signal does this send to young girls and minority groups about their future in politics?” Rev. Dikwa asked.
The CRA is calling on the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to urgently step in and restore constitutional order by enforcing Mrs. Audu’s right to leadership.
The group also called on Christian and secular advocacy bodies—such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and women’s rights groups—to rally around the embattled leader, who is facing pressure to resign.
“This is not just a Christian problem. It is a Nigerian problem. If we can remove an elected official based on identity, then no one’s mandate is safe,” the statement concluded.