The 2027 presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Aliyu Bin Abbas, has alleged that there are attempts to tamper with the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the next general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, Abbas warned that any move to substitute his name without his consent and outside established legal and party procedures would amount to an attack on democracy.
Although he did not provide independent evidence to support the alleged plot, the ADP candidate said he had received information suggesting that political pressure was being mounted around the party’s presidential candidacy.
Abbas insisted that any decision affecting the ADP presidential ticket must comply with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the constitution and regulations of the ADP, and the applicable procedures of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Any attempt to secretly substitute, withdraw, replace or otherwise compromise my candidacy without my express consent and without strict adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the constitution and regulations of the ADP, and applicable INEC procedures would constitute a grave assault on democratic principles and the rights of our members and supporters,” he said.
The presidential hopeful maintained that he emerged through the recognised processes of the party and argued that any subsequent decision concerning the ticket must be transparent and lawful.
He also rejected any suggestion that the ADP presidential ticket could be used for political negotiations behind closed doors.
“My mandate is not a personal possession of any individual, neither is it a political bargaining chip to be traded behind closed doors,” Abbas stated.
The ADP candidate called on the party leadership to safeguard what he described as the integrity of the presidential nomination process.
Those he specifically appealed to included the National Chairman, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, members of the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, state chairmen and other stakeholders of the party.
Abbas further urged the leadership to preserve all official records relating to the presidential primary, nomination process, submission of documents and communications with INEC.
According to him, any change to the party’s presidential ticket should only occur through lawful, transparent and verifiable procedures.
He warned that allowing any individual or group to alter the ticket secretly could damage the confidence of party members and supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.
The presidential candidate also called on political stakeholders to respect the rights of party members and allow established democratic procedures to determine candidates.
“Our party belongs to its members. Our mandate belongs to the people. And our democracy belongs to Nigeria,” he declared.
Abbas urged ADP members and supporters to remain committed to democratic principles while calling on the party leadership to ensure that every step taken regarding the 2027 presidential ticket complies fully with the party’s constitution and Nigeria’s electoral laws.
The statement comes amid increasing political activity and early alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties beginning to position themselves for the presidential contest.
