ADC disowns alleged Borno committees, accuses chieftain of plot to hijack party ahead of 2027

Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State has publicly distanced itself from transitional and membership registration committees allegedly formed by one of its chieftains, Kashim Imam, warning that the move threatens internal stability as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace.

The party’s position was announced in Maiduguri by the Borno State Chairman of the ADC, Alhaji Umar Bolori, who spoke on behalf of key stakeholders at a news conference.

Bolori described members of the disputed committees as “political jobbers”, accusing them of attempting to infiltrate and destabilise the party ahead of the next election cycle.

He insisted that the leadership of the ADC in Borno neither authorised nor recognised the committees, stressing that any structure set up without due consultation remains invalid.

Despite the internal tension, Bolori said the party remains focused on strengthening its grassroots base to challenge the long-standing dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

According to him, the ADC has continued to receive defectors from other opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), as it builds momentum towards 2027.

He added that consultations were still ongoing among party stakeholders before any official committees would be inaugurated to steer the party’s affairs in the state.

Addressing reports of violence linked to the controversy, Bolori alleged that a group led by Kashim Imam Matawalle forcefully disrupted a party meeting.

“Some purported party members led by Kashim Imam Matawalle engaged political thugs and forcefully entered the meeting venue, breaching security and causing injuries to loyal party members and security personnel,” he said.

He maintained that the State Working Committee had formally disassociated itself from all actions taken during the meeting, insisting that the recognised leadership of the party was not involved.

“Appropriate steps will be taken to remedy the situation. Relevant security agencies, including the Police and the DSS, have been informed to prevent a recurrence of such illegal activities,” Bolori added.

The development highlights growing tensions within smaller opposition parties as Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 elections, with control of party structures increasingly becoming a battleground.