A fresh political crisis is brewing within the Niger State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a group within the party has called for the immediate disqualification of governorship aspirant, Mallam Idris Usman Makaranta, popularly known as “Shenkafa Nupe,” over alleged involvement in a N3 billion rice contract fraud.
The group also accused the aspirant of allegedly being a political mole planted within the party to destabilise the ADC ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a strongly-worded two-page petition dated May 14, 2026, and addressed to the National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, as well as the party’s governorship screening committee, the petitioners argued that the opposition party could not risk presenting what they described as a candidate with a “tainted public image.”
The petition, signed by Alhaji Yakubu Usman and obtained by journalists in Minna on Sunday, alleged that Makaranta was awarded a rice supply contract worth N3 billion by the Niger State Government but failed to execute the contract, leading to legal action and financial fraud allegations against him.
According to the petitioners, court documents attached to the petition allegedly showed that the aspirant was indicted in relation to the contract dispute, a development they warned could damage the electoral fortunes of the ADC if he is allowed to contest.
“We are therefore asking the national headquarters and the screening committee to be fair and just by disqualifying the aspirant,” the group stated.
The petitioners further insisted that there was sufficient evidence linking Makaranta to the alleged rice contract scandal and urged the party leadership to compel him to withdraw from the forthcoming governorship primaries.
The group also expressed fears that if cleared to contest, the APC-led Niger State Government could use the pending fraud allegations and court proceedings against him during the election period.
Raising further suspicion over his recent defection, the petitioners noted that Makaranta only resigned from the ruling APC barely two weeks ago before joining the ADC to pursue his governorship ambition.
According to them, the timing of his defection raised concerns that he may have been planted in the opposition party to create internal confusion.
“It is deeply troubling that an individual with such a controversial background is being allowed to seek the ticket of our party without proper scrutiny and due diligence,” part of the petition read.
The group further alleged that the aspirant is under investigation by security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
They claimed that Makaranta was arraigned before a High Court in Minna in October 2025 by Niger Foods, a trading company promoted by the Niger State Government, over an alleged breach of contract involving the rice supply deal.
According to the petitioners, the case, filed under suit number FHC/MN/CS/90/2025 and Motion No. FHC/MN/234/2025, allegedly led to his detention for about one week before he was granted bail in the sum of N100 million.
They also referenced a police document identified as Form F, dated November 7, 2025, which reportedly confirmed that the defendant had earlier been remanded following a court warrant before later securing bail.
Makaranta, whose resignation letter from the APC was dated May 4, 2026, reportedly cited “current realities” within the ruling party as reasons for his exit, arguing that the APC no longer offered him the political space needed to pursue his ambition.
Efforts to obtain comments from Mallam Idris Usman Makaranta on the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
ADC crisis deepens as aspirant faces N3bn fraud allegations clash
