Two weeks after the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship primary election in Benue State, the declared winner, Herman Hembe, is yet to receive his Certificate of Return, amid an ongoing review of the exercise by the party’s national leadership.

The development follows petitions submitted by some aspirants who are demanding a fresh primary, alleging that the process that produced the reported winner was flawed and failed to reflect the wishes of party members.

A party source told our reporter on Saturday that the national body of the ADC is currently reviewing the outcome of the exercise, hence the delay in issuing a certificate of return to Hembe.

The petitioners, Joseph Waya and Peter Adejoh, in separate petitions to the party leadership, raised concerns over the conduct of the exercise and called for a review of the outcome.They also urged the party to constitute a new governorship electoral committee made up of individuals who are neither indigenes nor residents of Benue State to guarantee neutrality and credibility in any subsequent process. 

In a statement obtained by DAILY POST on Saturday, Waya faulted a memo reportedly issued by ‘The Herman Hembe Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation Benue 2027’ announcing the constitution of a committee to select a running mate for the Benue ADC governorship ticket.

According to him, the party has yet to conclude its review of the primary election.

However, despite the development, Hembe has set up a nine-man committee to pick his running mate ahead of 2027 polls.

Reacting, Waya said, “We wish to state that ADC Benue has no governorship candidate yet as the primaries are currently under review by the National Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress in line with directives from the National Chairman and resolutions of the just-concluded NEC.”

He argued that constituting a committee for the selection of a running mate before the conclusion of the review process was premature.

“This is therefore a clear case of putting the cart before the horse, to be shopping for a deputy when the party has not yet declared its governorship candidate.

“It is procedurally improper for any campaign organisation to constitute committees on running mate selection when the substantive ticket remains under review and no candidate has emerged,” he stated.

Waya further noted that the memo referenced consultations with the national and state leadership of the party but did not provide evidence of any formal approval or directive from the National Secretariat.

Similarly, Peter Adejoh, the only governorship aspirant from Benue South Senatorial District, commended the party leadership for reviewing the primary election and expressed confidence that the process would strengthen internal democracy within the ADC.

Adejoh urged the national leadership of the party to ensure that all grievances arising from the exercise are thoroughly addressed in the interest of fairness, transparency and party unity.

“I commend the national leadership of our party for reviewing the governorship primary election. This demonstrates the party’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and internal democracy.

“I believe all concerns raised by aspirants should be carefully considered in the interest of justice, party unity, and the overall success of the ADC in Benue State.

“It is surprising that a committee for the selection of a running mate is being constituted when the party has not concluded its review and no Certificate of Return has been issued. Such actions are capable of creating confusion among party members and the public,” Adejoh said.

A support group of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the Grassroots Mobilization Network, GMN, has expressed concerns over ongoing legal disputes involving the party, urging the judiciary to uphold fairness and due process.

Speaking on Saturday in Abuja, the group’s spokesperson, Peter Emeka, said all stakeholders must work to protect democratic institutions and ensure confidence in the electoral process.

“The ruling party doesn’t want anyone on the ballot,” Emeka alleged, while calling on the courts to remain impartial in the handling of political cases.

He urged judicial officers handling political matters to act in accordance with the law and in a manner that would strengthen public trust in the judiciary.

According to him, court decisions on politically sensitive matters often attract public attention and should be guided by the principles of justice, fairness, and constitutional order.

Emeka also argued that issues relating to party leadership and internal party affairs should be addressed in line with existing legal precedents and established judicial pronouncements.

He noted that the legal proceedings involving the ADC and Nafiu Bala have generated significant interest among party members and political observers.

The ADC and Nafiu Bala have been involved in a leadership dispute, with several cases filed in different courts.

One of the matters is expected to come up for hearing in the coming days.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has advised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to support President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bwala gave the advice during an interview on Symfoni TV, where he questioned Atiku’s current political strength and future chances.

He said Atiku has never historically relied on a strong regional voting base, noting that his support has always been spread across the country.

“Historically, Atiku has never commanded more votes from the Northwest. His votes are usually spread across the nation because of his national outlook,” he said.

According to him, Atiku’s influence in the North may not be as strong as many people assume, especially considering recent political developments.

“In 2023, he even lost some states in the Northeast. So we are speaking to facts and figures, not assumptions,” Bwala stated.

He also pointed to the influence of other political figures.

He said the presence of Rabiu Kwankwaso, who has now aligned with Peter Obi, has further reduced Atiku’s political strength.

“There is the Kwankwaso factor who has now aligned with Peter Obi, and his influence has affected Atiku. So when you ask about Atiku’s electoral value now, you have to consider these realities,” he added.

Bwala questioned the former vice president’s political structure, asking who his key allies are at the state level.

“I ask you, who are Atiku’s governors? What structure does he have? He doesn’t really have that structure,” he said.

He described the 2023 presidential election as Atiku’s best chance at becoming president, adding that the circumstances at the time worked in his favour.

“2023 was the biggest opportunity Atiku had in his political life,” he said.

Bwala explained that certain narratives during the election period, including religious and regional sentiments, helped Atiku gain support.

“There was this belief that power would remain in the North, and that influenced how people voted. Religious leaders and political actors also played a role in shaping opinions,” he said.

However, he noted that many of the key political figures and supporters who worked for Atiku in 2023 are no longer with him.

“The people who were strong supporters then are no longer with him now. That has weakened his position,” he added.

Bwala also expressed concern that Atiku could perform below expectations if he contests again in 2027.

“My fear is that he might even perform below expectations, possibly behind other candidates. What would that mean for his legacy?” he said.

He then advised Atiku to consider supporting President Tinubu instead of running again.

“I want to urge him to come and sit with his friend (Tinubu), and support him. He has four years to complete his term, and after that, you can pursue your interests not you (Atiku) but whoever you think should be part of the process,” he said.