By Abdulkareem Haruna
A major crack has erupted within the ranks of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State as a prominent youth chieftain publicly accuses some unnamed “Abuja-based political merchants” of attempting to seize control of the new party structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Hon. Yusuf Sheriff Modu, Chairman of the ADC Critical Youth Stakeholders Forum, who made this claim on Monday night in Maiduguri warned the party’s national leadership that the state chapter would not be “auctioned” by what he termed “transactional and transitional politicians” whose loyalty, he claimed, was as fleeting as ”kerosene that evaporates the moment heat is applied.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Maiduguri, Mr. Modu, popularly known as Sheriff Banki, describes the internal struggle as a battle between founding members who have sustained the party with “personal resources” and migrating politicians seeking personal gain and political relevance.
“Borno State ADC is not for sale,” Mr. Modu stated unequivocally. “We will not surrender the soul of ADC to transactional politicians who migrate from platform to platform like political nomads.”
The core of the allegation targets a group of politicians who, according to Mr. Modu, are political newcomers to the ADC in Borno. He claimed these individuals had previously “fought tooth and nail against the formation and registration of our great party” and even “mocked the ADC at its birth” as a “structureless experiment.”
The youth leader accused them of
sabotage: “working against the party’s collective efforts during its successful unveiling and membership registration drives; and are now attempting to forcefully impose themselves” on the chapter through ”backdoor arrangements, illegal meetings, and fabricated claims of leadership endorsement.”
Further accusing the politicians of being with questionable history, the ADC chieftain described the politicians as “habitually compromised figures who have used the opposition platform as a money making venture” and a sheer 8 political parasite” to any party.
Mr. Modu suggested that the desperation was an indication that these politicians have “lost their political usefulness and relevance” with the Borno populace.
The youth chieftain issued a stern call to the ADC National and Zonal leadership, urging them to immediately intervene and avoid aligning with the “political traders.” He warned that failure to do so could lead to a “massive rejection by the people of the state.”
Furthermore, Mr. Modu introduced a specific demand regarding the party’s internal structure, stating that for the sake of “equity, fairness, and Justice,” the chairmanship of any incoming Transition Committee “must come from Southern Borno Senatorial District.”
He asserted that the Southern Borno region has been the “support base for the opposition party since 1999,” and that the zoning arrangement, which reserves other critical positions for Borno Central and Northern Senatorial Districts, must be respected.
“We are never ever going back on this zoning arrangement,” Mr. Modu stressed, adding that the ADC is the “most beautiful bride in town” and will not tolerate any action that derails the party’s 2027 aspirations.
The group concluded by promising to legally, politically, and organizationally resist any attempt to destabilize the established Borno structure. The ADC leadership has yet to issue a formal response to the charges.
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