A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Salihu Bakari, has threatened legal action against the party over what he described as his unjust omission from the list of cleared aspirants for the party’s governorship primary election.
Bakari, through his media aide, Marculey Humwashi, made the allegation during a press conference in Yola, where he called on the APC leadership to cancel the outcome of the primary process and conduct a fresh election.
According to Humwashi, Bakari fulfilled all requirements for participation in the APC governorship primary, including the purchase of the nomination form and participation in the party’s screening exercise ahead of the May 21, 2026, primary election.
He said the aspirant was neither notified of any disqualification nor invited before an appeal committee, making the omission of his name from the final list of cleared aspirants “shocking and unacceptable.”
“I, Salihu Bakari, duly purchased the party’s governorship nomination form with the intention of contesting in the 2026 governorship primaries under the platform of the APC,” the statement said.
“In line with the party’s guidelines and procedures, I honoured the invitation of the screening committee and successfully participated in the screening exercise.
“However, to my utmost surprise, I discovered that the list released by the committee responsible for conducting the primary election omitted my name entirely without any explanation or stated reason.”
Key Highlights:
- Salihu Bakari has threatened legal action against the APC, alleging he was unfairly omitted from the list of cleared aspirants for the party’s governorship primary election.
- Bakari said he fulfilled all requirements, including purchasing the nomination form and participating in the screening exercise ahead of the May 21, 2026, primary election.
- According to his media aide, Marculey Humwashi, Bakari was neither informed of any disqualification nor invited before an appeal committee, making his omission from the final list unexpected and unjustified.
- The aspirant described the omission as a violation of transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity, arguing that it denied him the chance to participate in the APC’s internal democratic process.
- Bakari has called on the APC national leadership and the Adamawa State Appeal Committee to restore his name, cancel the current primary outcome, and conduct a fresh governorship primary election, warning that he may seek legal redress if the issue is not resolved.
Bakari alleged that while some aspirants were clearly marked “not cleared,” his own name was completely absent from the published list despite participating in the screening exercise.
He described the development as a violation of transparency, fairness and equal opportunity in the party’s internal democratic process.
“This omission raises serious concerns about fairness, transparency and equal opportunity in the conduct of the party’s internal democratic process and has effectively denied me the opportunity to participate in the exercise,” the statement added.
The aggrieved aspirant further argued that the action contravened provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and guidelines of both the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Read also:
- Political activities intensify in Adamawa as Fintiri promises transparent process
- Senatorial Aspirant In Adamawa quits APC, cites imposition Of 28 Aspirants by Fintiri, Tinubu
- APC postpones Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone primary over logistical challenges
Bakari appealed to the APC national chairman and the party’s Adamawa State Appeal Committee to review the circumstances surrounding his omission, restore his name to the list of cleared aspirants and order a fresh governorship primary election in the state.
He warned that failure to address the matter could compel him to seek legal redress.
Despite the dispute, Bakari reaffirmed his commitment to the unity and progress of the APC, expressing confidence that the party’s leadership would ensure justice and due process.
