ADP Insists Shaaban Still the Candidate for Governor of Kaduna

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has cautioned its suspended acting chairman in Kaduna State, Umar Isah, not to pose as the party chairman or carry out any official duties on the party’s behalf before this weekend’s governorship election.

Sani Shaaban has not resigned for any other candidate, the party claimed, and he is still its candidate for governor of Kaduna.

Isah has since been removed from his position as the state’s acting chairman due to alleged anti-party activities, according to a statement released by the ADP on Tuesday by its National Secretary, Victor Fingesi. As a result, his press conference at which he announced the suspension of the party’s governorship candidate is unlawful, void, and unenforceable.

The party’s National Secretary urged both supporters and ADP members in the state to overlook Isah and support Sha’aban during the March 18 governorship elections by stating explicitly that Shaaban is the genuine ADP governorship candidate in Kaduna State.

The statement read, “The National Secretariat of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has been drawn to the text of an illegal press conference addressed by the suspended Kaduna State Chairman of the ADP, Hon. Umar Isah, wherein he lied that the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Sani Mahmud Shaaban, is suspended from the party.

“Hon. Sani Mahmud Shaaban, who won the ADP Kaduna State Gubernatorial flagbearer position in a legally organized congress in accordance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, is still the party’s candidate for governor in the state’s March 18 general election.

Thus, it is encouraged that the Kaduna State populace and members of our great party reject and discard the entirety of Hon. Umar Isah’s misguided, illegal news conference.

In the same way that they would vote for their state assembly candidates in the various Kaduna State constituencies, they should turn out in large numbers on Saturday to elect Hon. Sani Mahmud Shaaban as the next governor of Kaduna State.

Likewise, the ADP stated in a letter to the suspended interim Chairman, “We reaffirm that you are no longer the chairman of the party in Kaduna State pursuant to the letter dated 8th March, 2023. Hon. Sani Mahmud Shaaban is the legitimate ADP candidate for governor of Kaduna State.

The text of your news conference that was quoted above completely shocked the party’s National Secretariat.

“Even though the party’s national office has always given you the chance to voice your concerns, you went bonkers and acted like an emperor, taking it upon yourself to even fire the party’s governorship candidate.

“You are advised to follow the instructions in your letter of suspension and refrain from moving forward with the course you have chosen in order to protect your own interests. You must immediately turn over to the Acting Chairman all party property that you are carrying.