A fresh leadership crisis has hit the Sokoto State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as a faction of the party rejected the return of Bello Isiyaku as state chairman.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the faction led by the State Secretary, Yusuf Abdulkadir Alkali, reaffirmed Hon. Umar Muhammad Faruk as the recognised chairman of the party in the state.

Alkali explained that Isiyaku had been suspended before the 2023 general elections over internal disputes linked to his governorship ambition on the ADC platform, and therefore could not lay claim to the chairmanship.

He noted that Faruk’s leadership was ratified by the party’s national body, led by Ralph Nwosu, during its national convention in Zaria in September 2022.

“At our last meeting, which was attended by 25 members of the state executive committee, 18 voted in favour of reaffirming Hon. Umar Muhammad Faruk as chairman,” Alkali stated.

“The attempt to reintroduce Bello Isiyaku into our leadership structure is not only unconstitutional but also unacceptable.”

Alkali accused some party elders of fueling division but stressed that the majority of members remain loyal to Faruk and the national leadership.

“The state executive committee has unanimously resolved to reject Bello Isiyaku’s claim.

“It restates its loyalty to Hon. Umar Muhammad Faruk,” he added.