Many members and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from across Adamawa State gathered in Yola on Wednesday and staged a street protest over growing rumours of plans to substitute the party’s governorship candidate, Omar Suleiman.

The candidate and his supporters have, for the past couple of weeks, faced speculation that he would be replaced, first by a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulrahman Haske, and more recently by another politician, Modibbo Tukur.

In reaction to the continued tension over the alleged substitution plan, party members mobilised by a group, Frontier Movement 774, marched through the streets of Yola, urging an end to any move to replace Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana.

The protesters converged in the early hours of the day and marched through major streets, displaying placards with messages including ‘Don’t Forcefully Remove our Candidate’, ‘Respect Party Democracy’, ‘Omarana Is the People’s Choice’, ‘No to Candidate Substitution’, and ‘No Removal, No Substitution’.

The protesters ended their march at the ADC state secretariat in Jimeta, where some of their leaders addressed the gathering.

The Chairman of Frontier Movement 774, Madu Umar, said ordinary members of the ADC were unhappy that the party’s duly elected governorship candidate had been denied peace of mind by rumours of a possible substitution.

He said the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the party leadership at both state and national levels to the dangers of attempting to replace a candidate already chosen through the party’s established process.

Also speaking, one of the protest leaders, Mrs Damaris Yalawa, said, “Omarana is the one we chose. We don’t know what some people are up to; but we know that it is Omarana that we elected as our candidate for 2027 and on him we insist.”

Two other protest leaders also spoke at the ADC secretariat, with some appealing to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to intervene. However, none of them openly accused Atiku of being involved in the alleged move.

This differs from unconfirmed street speculation suggesting that Atiku may not be unaware of behind-the-scenes efforts to alter the ADC governorship candidacy in his home state.

Wednesday’s protest in Yola came barely 24 hours after an ADC stalwart warned of serious consequences if the party’s candidate was changed in the manner being alleged.

The stalwart, Suleiman Adamu Jimeta, said the reported plan to bring in Tukur Modibbo, with some party stakeholders allegedly supporting the move, should be disregarded, as no such decision had been communicated through any recognised channel.

He described the rumoured move as a recipe for confusion and internal division, warning that it could significantly weaken the party’s chances in next year’s elections.

Mixed reactions are trailing the announcement by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he has joined the Rainbow Coalition, a political movement founded by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

DAILY POST reported that the governor announced the development on Wednesday during the foundation-laying ceremony of the RIVEN Medical Industries Project in Rumuosi, Port Harcourt.

The governor, who appealed to his supporters to vote all candidates affiliated with the coalition, confirmed that he has returned to Wike’s political family.

“I am supporting President Tinubu for the Presidency and OK Chinda to be the next Governor of Rivers State.

“I am part of the Rainbow Coalition, and I’m back to my political family,” Fubara said.

Addressing the gathering, Fubara urged all residents and political stakeholders across Rivers State to sheath their swords and end the prolonged political crisis in the state

He urged them to set aside political differences, and back his decision in the interest of long-term peace and socio-economic development.

However, the development did not sit well with some of his supporters. While some welcomed his decision, others regretted supporting the governor.

Here are some of the reactions from X

@jointrd44: Fubara knows pretty well what will happen to him when he leaves office in 2027. It is only wise to support Wike coalition.

@fuji_xud: He should have rejected coming back than this shameful outing.

@ChiefObi: Wike’s political group? Never seen a coward like Sim in my life.

@aoidogwu1309: That’s life for you. Those opportunistic people who enabled him on a collision course against Wike have all left him behind today. Sad life!

@Barnny_summy: Fubara has terminated his political career. History will remember. Very shameful.

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Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abayomi Tella, has urged residents to reject what he described as the imposition of governorship candidates from outside the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Tella insisted that the state should be governed by leaders who understand its people, culture and developmental needs.

He spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, monitored by DAILY POST in Abeokuta.

Explaining the rationale behind the PDP’s “Ogun for Ogun” slogan, Tella said the campaign was rooted in the belief that the state should be governed by individuals who have lived among the people and understand their needs.

He argued that familiarity with the state’s history, culture and developmental challenges was essential for effective leadership.

“I’ll just give you a typical example. Dr. Abayomi Tella was born in Agbara Ogun State and he lives in this state. He has participated in everything that is done in this state.

“He knows this state like the back of his hand. Given the opportunity to rule this state, he knows exactly what to do. He knows the people in this state in and out,” he explained.

Tella argued that leaders without strong roots in Ogun State could lack full commitment to the state’s development and might surround themselves with associates from outside the state.

“If he’s giving positions, he’s not giving positions to somebody who he’s just giving positions to because he’s his friend from Lagos or from Kano. Ogun State has a lot of potential there and because he knows Ogun State in and out, if you elect him as your governor, he’s going to do justice to everything that Ogun State people need. Unlike when you import candidates to come and govern your state,” he added.

The PDP chairman also warned against what he described as the practice of presenting candidates without deep-rooted connections to Ogun State, saying residents must protect their right to choose leaders who truly understand the state.

“I’m only telling you that the people of Ogun State must be alert. They should not allow impostors in their states.”

He maintained that the people of Ogun State were politically sophisticated enough to make informed choices at the polls, adding that voters should reject any attempt to impose candidates on them during the 2027 governorship election.

Responding to concerns about Iyabo Obasanjo’s membership of the PDP and compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s registration requirements, Tella maintained that the party followed due process and acted within the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“Everything that is done are perfectly done and are in line with the Electoral Act, perfectly in line with Electoral Act. Senator Iyabo Obasanjo was a member of this party before the deadline and she actually resigned from the other party. So there’s no question about that,” he clarified.