Eniola Yekini
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State is embroiled in a leadership tussle over its governorship ticket, with two aspirants laying claim to the party’s candidacy months after the primary election.
Shuaibu Idris Mikati, who was declared winner by the party’s appeal committee, said he has dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, to seek recognition as the rightful flag bearer.
Speaking in an interview in Kaduna, Mikati said about five aspirants contested the ADC governorship primary in the state. At the end of the exercise, Right Honourable Isah Ashiru was declared winner by the primary election committee.
The other four aspirants, including Mikati, rejected the result and approached the appeal committee set up by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.
According to him, the appeal committee reviewed the process and “returned me as the validly elected flag bearer of the party,” setting aside the initial declaration.
Mikati said the expectation was that the NWC would ratify or amend the appeal committee’s position. However, he noted that no directive was issued, leaving both him and Ashiru parading themselves as candidates.
“There is no information about who exactly is the flag bearer of the party. So, if you like, there is a stalemate as we stand today,” he said.
He accused the NWC of failing to act, saying it should have asked both aspirants to sheathe their swords or asked Ashiru to step aside pending a final decision.
On his decision to sue, Mikati said he did not “jump” the internal process. He explained that more than two months had passed since the appeal verdict and the Electoral Act deadline for submission of candidates was August 8.
“I waited until August 11. When I did not hear anything, and nobody invited me to say, ‘Come and collect your INEC form’ or ‘Come and collect your certificate of return,’ I decided to file the case,” he said.
He added that he had reached out to senior national executives who kept saying “we are still on it,” but time was running out. He said he would withdraw the case immediately if the party presents him with the certificate of return.
The matter is already before the Federal High Court in Maitama, and hearing has commenced.
On WIPER’ agenda for Kaduna, Mikati said he has unveiled a five-point development blueprint he called WIPER, including Wealth Creation, Infrastructural Development, Peace Based on Equity and Justice, Empowerment and Resource Mobilisation.
He said he was persuaded to contest despite the demanding nature of leadership, and that he had worked with a team to review education, health and infrastructure in the state.
“I always look forward. You cannot be driving a car in fifth gear and keep looking behind,” he said, adding that he had already begun implementing parts of the agenda with personal funds, including renovation of primary and secondary schools and support for hospital patients.
He argued that he is better placed to manage Kaduna’s resources, citing his background as a chartered accountant, banker, human resource practitioner, marketer and administrator.
Responding to critics who label him a “serial contestant” and party jumper, Mikati said all his previous governorship attempts in 2007, 2011 and 2019 were under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he remained loyal.
“I collapsed my structure and supported Namadi Sambo in 2007, the late Patrick Yakowa in 2011, and the PDP candidate in 2019, he said. He said he only left PDP for ADC after years of internal wrangling in the former ruling party.
On the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu administration, Mikati said as an economic analyst he supports the policy in principle but faulted its implementation.
He compared it with past administrations, noting that subsidy removal under Babangida and Abacha came with palliatives such as mass transit buses, People’s Bank and the Petroleum Trust Fund.
“What did we see under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Subsidy was removed, prices went higher… and President Tinubu promised to provide 15,000 buses. This is his third year in office, and we have not seen even 3,000 buses,” he said.
He added that while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar promised to reverse subsidy removal, the federal government’s response of giving money to governors to pay salaries missed the point of the policy.
Mikati said ADC is offering “better alternative policies” because Nigerians are not happy with current governance at both federal and state levels.
He said the court would now determine who stands as ADC’s governorship candidate in Kaduna ahead of the next election.