A fresh crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State as the party’s chairman, Hon. Umar Muhammad Faruk, has warned former governorship candidate, Alhaji Bello Isiyaku (Keegan), to stop parading himself as the party’s chairman.
Faruk, in a strongly worded statement said the public must note that Isiyaku was suspended by the ADC national leadership in September 2022, shortly after contesting the 2023 governorship election under the party.
He said the suspension stripped him of any claim to the state leadership.
“I was duly appointed as the legitimate ADC Chairman in Sokoto after his suspension, I represented the state at the ADC’s emergency mini-convention in Zaria on September 22, where the leadership of Chief Ralph Nwosu was confirmed and later transitioned to the current Interim National Chairman, Sen. David Mark.
The chairman accused Isiyaku of using media platforms to insult and attack individuals while falsely claiming to speak for the ADC.
“The ADC has not sent him. We are a party of elders and respected personalities. No member is allowed to defame others using the party’s name”
He maintained that the party’s constitution forbids such conduct, stressing that the ADC stands for dignity, discipline, and delivering democratic dividends in security, education, infrastructure, and health.
He also warned those giving Isiyaku a platform to misrepresent the party, insisting that Isiyaku remains only a former gubernatorial candidate, not its leader in Sokoto.
The ADC chairman vowed that the party would take legal action if Isiyaku continues.
Repeated attempts to speak with Isiyaku failed. But the development has sparked fresh concerns about unity within the ADC as political activities quietly gather momentum in Sokoto.