By Mati Ali
The governorship primary election conducted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa State remains one of the most transparent, peaceful, and democratically coordinated internal electoral exercises in the party’s recent history. Across the 27 local government areas of the state, party members participated in a process that culminated in the emergence of Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu as the ADC governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.
From accreditation to voting, collation, and final declaration of results, the exercise was conducted under the supervision of party officials, security agencies, electoral monitors, and accredited stakeholders. The outcome was duly authenticated by all authorized signatories, including candidates’ representatives and relevant election officials, thereby conferring legitimacy and credibility on the process.
A critical examination of the structure and operational framework of the primary election reveals an interesting political reality. The election monitoring personnel, collation officials, and complaint-resolution mechanisms deployed by the party’s national headquarters were widely perceived to have been nominated with the input of Hon. Bashir Adamu Jumbo, one of the governorship aspirants. Similarly, party structures at the state, local government, ward, and polling-unit levels were largely viewed as operating within a political environment where Hon. Jumbo wielded significant influence.
Furthermore, individuals entrusted with the distribution of electoral materials and the management of the primary election process across the state were largely drawn from existing party structures and committees that many observers associated with Hon. Jumbo’s political network. Yet, despite these perceived institutional advantages, the final verdict of ADC members produced a remarkably different outcome.
At the conclusion of the exercise, Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu secured a decisive victory with 35,939 votes, while Hon. Bashir Adamu Jumbo polled 19,533 votes. The results were officially announced by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer, DIG Zaki Mohammed Ahmed (Rtd), at Tahir Guest Palace, and were subsequently endorsed by all relevant stakeholders through the signing of the official result sheets.
The significance of this outcome extends beyond mere statistics. It demonstrates that democratic legitimacy is ultimately derived not from institutional influence or political leverage, but from the freely expressed will of party members. Despite perceptions that the prevailing political architecture favored a particular aspirant, ADC members exercised their franchise independently and delivered a clear mandate.
It is therefore difficult to reconcile post-election grievances with the realities of a process that was conducted within a framework widely believed to be favorable to those now questioning its outcome. The election was neither imposed nor predetermined; rather, it reflected the collective judgment of card-carrying ADC members across Jigawa State.
More importantly, the outcome is consistent with the foundational philosophy of the African Democratic Congress. The ADC was established as a progressive political platform committed to deepening democratic participation, institutional accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and internal party democracy. The party explicitly rejects the culture of elite domination, money politics, and political godfatherism that has historically undermined democratic development in Nigeria.
As stated in the ADC’s mission, the party seeks to reengineer Nigeria’s political landscape through transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and citizen-driven participation. Consequently, the decision of party members at the primary election should be viewed as an affirmation of these principles rather than an exception to them.
Prior to the primary election, Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu and his campaign team embarked on extensive consultations across the length and breadth of Jigawa State. Through sustained engagement with party members, stakeholders, community leaders, youths, women, and grassroots supporters, they articulated a clear vision, policy direction, and development agenda for both the party and the state.
The overwhelming support eventually received by Senator Nakudu was therefore neither accidental nor unexpected. It was the product of strategic engagement, grassroots mobilization, effective communication, and the confidence reposed in his leadership credentials by ADC members throughout the state.
For this reason, supporters of Senator Nakudu view his emergence as both a democratic endorsement and a testament to the power of grassroots politics. The primary election has been concluded, a winner has emerged, and the collective verdict of ADC members has been unmistakably expressed.
The task before all stakeholders is not to revisit a settled contest but to unite behind the party’s candidate and channel their energies toward strengthening the ADC’s prospects in the 2027 general election.
Mati Ali
You can reach him via: matiali94@gmail.com