ADC at the Crossroads: Justice in Kaduna is a Test of the Party’s Soul

By Labaran Abubakar, Kafanchan, Kaduna State

As the countdown to the 2027 general elections begins, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) faces a pivotal moment that will define its identity far beyond Kaduna State. What started as a routine governorship primary has evolved into a critical referendum on the party’s core principles: justice, transparency, and internal democracy.

For months, the ADC has positioned itself as the principled alternative to Nigeria’s political establishment. Its leaders have been vocal critics of electoral malpractice, the erosion of democratic institutions, and the denial of a level playing field for opposition parties. These are the messages that have resonated with Nigerians desperate for a new political culture.

However, the party now faces its own ultimate test: Can the ADC uphold within its own ranks the very democratic values it demands of others? Will it abide by its own rules and respect the sanctity of its internal systems?

Following the Kaduna State governorship primary, Rt. Hon. Isa Ashiru was declared the winner. Yet, rather than unifying the party, that declaration ignited a firestorm of controversy. Across the state, stakeholders and delegates questioned the credibility of the exercise, raising red flags about manipulation, intimidation, thuggery, and the use of falsified documents.

History teaches a harsh lesson: opposition parties rarely defeat incumbents when they are fractured by internal strife. Disputes often inflict more damage than external opposition, eroding trust, demoralizing supporters, and crippling campaign structures long before voters head to the polls.

Rather than resorting to public confrontation, aggrieved aspirants—including Mallam Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, Prof Muhammad Sani Bello, and Mallam Shuaibu Idris Mikati, mni—chose the path of constitutional dispute resolution. Their decision gave the ADC a golden opportunity to prove its institutions are capable of dispensing impartial justice.

The National Appeal Committee, chaired by Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Fagge, reviewed the petitions and the evidence. According to reports, the committee found irregularities substantial enough to cast doubt on the validity of the original declaration. Their conclusion was stark: the election did not accurately reflect the will of the delegates, and they reportedly declared Shuaibu Idris Mikati the rightful winner.

Whether one agrees with the committee’s verdict or not, the findings have placed the ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC) at a critical crossroads.

This moment is no longer about individual aspirants. It is about institutional credibility, the rule of law, and the legacy of the ADC.

A party cannot credibly demand transparency from others while appearing reluctant to uphold it within its own structures. It cannot condemn national electoral injustice while overlooking irregularities in its own nomination process. Justice cannot be selective; it must be consistent and absolute.

Kaduna State is one of Nigeria’s most competitive political battlegrounds. In such an environment, unity, credibility, and public confidence are not optional they are decisive.

Many stakeholders believe Shuaibu Idris Mikati enjoys broad acceptance among delegates and grassroots supporters. They argue that the Appeal Committee’s findings merely affirmed what participants already knew. Upholding the committee’s verdict would reinforce the ADC’s image as a party governed by rules, not by personalities.

Conversely, disregarding the findings would send a damaging signal to the electorate. It would suggest that internal democracy is celebrated in speeches but ignored in practice. It would hand political opponents powerful ammunition, weakening the party’s moral authority at the very moment it needs it most.

Nigerian voters are increasingly discerning. They evaluate parties not just by promises, but by conduct, consistency, and respect for due process. A party that cannot administer fairness internally cannot be trusted to govern fairly in office.

If the ADC genuinely seeks to distinguish itself as a principled alternative, this is the moment to demonstrate it. Honouring the outcome of its own review process ensuring fairness prevails would strengthen its democratic credentials and public confidence in its leadership.

The eyes of party members, political observers, and the people of Kaduna State are fixed on the NWC. Its decision will resonate long after this primary has faded from the headlines.

The strongest campaign message the ADC can deliver will not come from rallies or press conferences. It will come through its willingness to uphold fairness, respect due process, and honour the outcome of its own democratic mechanisms.

As the 2027 elections approach, the ADC has a rare opportunity to distinguish itself from the political culture it has criticized. Opportunities like this are uncommon; once lost, they are seldom recovered.

The NWC must urgently break its silence and act on the National Appeal Committee’s report. Whatever decision it reaches must be guided by justice, fairness, and fidelity to the party’s constitution.

If the ADC truly aspires to be the party of justice or to salvage any chance of victory in Kaduna then justice must not only begin at home, but it must be served now.