The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Kebbi State appears to be battling a deep structural crisis, as its grassroots structures across several of the state’s 21 local government areas continue to deteriorate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite emerging as part of a broader opposition coalition at the national level, the party’s internal structure in the state appears fragile, with many of its local government chapters reportedly inactive or deeply divided.

DAILY POST gathered that the ADC currently struggles to maintain a functional grassroots structure across several of the state’s 21 local government areas.

The development has raised concerns about its capacity to mobilise voters or effectively challenge dominant political forces.

Political observers say the strength of any political party is usually measured by its presence at the grassroots level, including ward executives, local government structures, and consistent mobilisation of supporters.

However, findings by DAILY POST indicate that many ADC local government chapters in Kebbi exist largely on paper, with little evidence of regular political activities or coordinated engagement with members.

Leadership crisis deepens party divisions

The situation has been further complicated by a series of internal leadership crises that have rocked the party in recent months.

ADC in Kebbi has been plagued by suspensions, factional disputes and competing claims to leadership positions, all of which have weakened its organisational cohesion.

One of the most prominent crises occurred in October 2025 when the party announced the suspension of Sule-Iko Sadeeq for allegedly declaring himself the state chairman without authorisation.

The suspension was confirmed by the party’s state publicity secretary, Abubakar Atiku-Musa, who said the decision followed consultations with party leaders and directives from the National Working Committee.

Sufiyanu Bala was reaffirmed as the constitutionally recognised chairman of the party in Kebbi at the time.

However, the leadership dispute escalated shortly afterwards when another faction of the party announced the suspension of Bala himself.

The party’s publicity secretary, Jamilu Muhammed, announced the suspension of Bala, his deputy, Junaidu Muhammed Mudi and the state secretary, Hauwa Muhammed.

According to him, the decision was taken after party stakeholders accused the leadership of taking unilateral decisions without consulting other executives.

Muhammed also alleged that the suspended leadership had allowed “Abuja politicians” to dominate the party’s affairs in the state, a development that triggered strong opposition among founding members.

Following the crisis, party stakeholders appointed Abdulrazaq Abubakar Isah Iko as interim state chairman, while Adamu Aliyu emerged as acting secretary pending the conduct of a new congress.

However, in November 2025, a High Court in Birnin Kebbi issued an injunction restraining a faction allegedly aligned with former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, from parading themselves as leaders of the party in the state pending the determination of a substantive suit.

The court order specifically barred suspended officials from presenting themselves as chairman, deputy chairman or secretary of the party.

DAILY POST observed that the persistent internal crises have significantly weakened the ADC’s ability to build a solid grassroots network across the state.

Our reporter gathered that in several local government areas, party executives are either inactive or divided along factional lines, making mobilisation efforts difficult.

This contrasts sharply with the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which currently controls all local government councils in the state.

In the 2024 local government elections, the APC won all 21 chairmanship positions and 225 councillorship seats across the state, effectively consolidating its control at the grassroots level.

With the development, it would be extremely difficult for smaller parties like the ADC to build the momentum needed for electoral success.

Yet, the party’s fortunes in Kebbi have been closely linked to the political influence of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

DAILY POST recalls that Malami, who officially left the APC in July 2025, joined the ADC as part of a broader opposition coalition, quickly emerging as one of the party’s most prominent figures in the state and the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Kebbi.

His entry into the party initially generated expectations that the ADC could evolve into a formidable opposition platform in Kebbi.

However, political developments have since complicated that possibility.

Sources within the party say Malami’s political momentum has been slowed by ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which have reportedly affected his ability to fully mobilise supporters.

While Malami remains one of the most recognisable opposition figures in the state, the legal and political pressures surrounding him have temporarily weakened the party’s organisational drive.

The absence of a clear and stable leadership structure has further compounded the problem.

Speaking in an interview, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nasir Idris, Ahmed Idris, dismissed ADC’s political relevance in the state.

“We are not concerned about them; we don’t see them as a strong opposition,” he said.

“In fact, their leader, Malami, never made any serious political impact in Kebbi and has even struggled to win his own polling unit in past elections,” Idris added.

He also questioned the motivations behind the opposition coalition being built around the ADC, suggesting that the effort was driven more by personal political ambition than public interest.

Despite the challenges, the interim leadership of the party insists that efforts were underway to rebuild the party’s structure.

Speaking on the situation, the interim state chairman of the party, Abdulrazaq Abubakar Isah Iko, acknowledged that the party was undergoing a period of reorganisation.

“We acknowledge that the party is going through a phase of reorganisation, but the ADC remains committed to strengthening its structure across all the 21 local government areas of Kebbi State,” he said in an interview.

“What we are doing now is to rebuild and ensure that our grassroots presence becomes more effective ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he added.

He also assured party members that the leadership was working to reposition the ADC as a credible alternative political platform in the state.

“Our focus is on unity, discipline and expansion. We are engaging stakeholders across the state to consolidate the party’s structure and mobilise new members,” he further stated.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has cautioned his supporters against fighting Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang on his behalf.

According to him, he and the governor have buried whatever differences they had in the past and are now working for the good of the state.

The two prominent sons of Plateau were political opponents when they contested for the governorship position in 2023, which was won by Mutfwang, who was then a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Since then, their supporters and loyalists have taken every opportunity to throw attacks and insults at each other ostensibly on behalf of the politicians.

But while speaking in Jos Monday, Nentawe appealed to his loyalists to desist from further attacks on the governor now that he has defected to the APC and is now working in the interest of the state.

The APC Chairman stated that whatever difference he had with Mutfwang in the past was not a personal fight but as political foes in different camps, they would naturally have differences in opinions and ideologies but now that they are in the same camp, there was no need for such differences.

“Today, I want to thank God for two reasons. We’ve united with my brother, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, in the same party, and we will provide the best we can.

“By the grace of God and with your support, we will ensure that Plateau actually gets what it deserves at the national and state levels,” the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction said.

“We never had any personal problems, and we never had any personal grudges. What we had was a political difference. We’ve closed those gaps, and we’re working together to ensure that we provide peace for our people, provide development for our people, and provide support for our people at any needed time.

“We now have a strong partnership. So, I’m calling upon anybody who is hearing my voice: If you have any political difference with Mutfwang because of me or for any reason, please, let bygones be bygones and let peace reign supreme in our state,” he added.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC has dismissed reports purporting that the commission arrested Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

A statement issued by the ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, described the video currently circulating on social media as false and malicious.

The commission stated that the claim contained in the video is entirely untrue and intended to spread mischief and mislead members of the public.

ICPC clarified that it has neither arrested nor invited Justice James Omotosho in relation to any investigation.

“The Commission is also not investigating the Honourable Judge as alleged in the video.

“The commission therefore urges members of the public to disregard the misleading content and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary public concern and damaging reputations”, the statement added.

Lagos State Government has announced alternative traffic routes ahead of the partial closure of the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following the commencement of repair works by the Federal Government.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued late Tuesday by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola.

According to the statement, the Federal Ministry of Works earlier announced that expansion joint repair works on the bridge would begin on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and are expected to last for two weeks, ending on March 24, 2026.

The government said the repair exercise would lead to a partial closure of the Kara Bridge inward Opic/Mowe, advising motorists to make use of designated alternative routes during the period to ease traffic movement.

Under the first route option, motorists coming from the Third Mainland Bridge are advised to connect through Ketu to Mile 12, proceed to Ogolonto and Ikorodu Garage, then link Sabo Roundabout to access Isagamu Road or Itokin Road to continue their journeys.

For the second option, motorists travelling from Lagos Island are advised to link Ilubinrin to Ijora Bridge, access Eko Bridge through Funsho Williams Avenue, and proceed to Ikorodu Road through Ojota to Ketu and Mile 12. From there, they can connect Ogolonto to Ikorodu Garage and proceed through Sabo Roundabout to Isagamu Road or Itokin Road to reach their destinations.

Alternatively, motorists may also connect Ikorodu Garage through Sabo Roundabout, link Ogijo to Likosi, and proceed through Shimawa to Lotto before connecting to Mowe and other destinations.

The ministry stated that officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, would be deployed within the rehabilitation corridor and along the designated alternative routes to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Traffic management signs will also be installed in strategic locations to guide motorists during the repair period.

The Lagos State Government urged motorists to plan their journeys in advance to avoid delays and appealed for patience and cooperation from road users throughout the duration of the rehabilitation work.

The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Enugu Depot Community, Chinedu Anyaso, has formally declared his intention to contest for the seat of Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in Anambra.

Anyaso, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance made the declaration in his home in Ekwulummili community, in the Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra.

He announced his intention in the presence of the leadership and stakeholders of APGA in Ekwulummili Ward.

He said he was motivated to enter the contest by the desire to complement the effort of the APGA-led government in Anambra with effective representation at the National Assembly.

Anyaso commended the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for his visionary leadership and development strides in Anambra which had made APGA the party of choice for every household in the state.

He promised to provide federal legislative support for Soludo to explore and develop the potential of the constituency in the area of trade and commerce, industrialisation and agriculture.

He said, “I want to announce my intention to contest for the seat of Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly in 2027 on the ticket of APGA.

“I am going to be your voice in the House of Representatives. I am going to complement the effort of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to address the ecological challenge in our constituency.

“Having served the Marketers in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu State as well as our members on parts of Abia, Imo, Kogi and Benue states for two successful terms, I am making myself available for the service of this Federal Constituency.”

Also speaking, the Chairman APGA, Ekwulummili Ward, Cosmas Ezeani described Anyaso as a strong pillar for APGA in the ward.

Also speaking, Chief Akai Egwuonwu, a Chieftain of APGA said Anyaso was a purposeful and goal driven gentleman with all the qualifications for the job.

Egwuonwu, who is aspiring for Anambra South Senatorial District called on the people of Ekwulummili Ward to give him all the support they could muster while urging Anyaso to build bridges for a successful outing.

Chief Nwankwo Onyekwere who spoke on behalf of marketers said the entire members of IPMAN were in solidarity with Anyaso whom he said had inspired vision and direction in the union through his leadership.