*Says Nigeria’s democracy cannot be held hostage by ambitions of any individual or political establishment
The Presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas has warned against schemes to substitute his name, to pave way for a single candidate from the North.
He expressed this in a statement signed by his SA Media and Publicity, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, made available to newsnen in Kaduna on Friday August 14, 2026.
“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.
According to the statement titled, “NO SECRET SUBSTITUTION OF MY PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE: PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE ADP” Ambassador Abbas was quoted saying, “I have become aware of serious political pressure allegedly being mounted on the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, by a Presidential candidate from an opposition political party, with the apparent objective of secretly substituting my name as the substantive Presidential Candidate of the ADP in the 2027 General Elections.
“The alleged motive is nothing short of an attempt to create a single Presidential candidate from Northern Nigeria by eliminating competing democratic voices through political manipulation rather than through the ballot box.
“Let me state this clearly: Nigeria’s democracy cannot be held hostage by the personal ambitions of any individual or political establishment,” he said.
Ambassador Abbas explained that he emerged through the constitutionally and democratically recognised processes of his political party.
“My mandate is not a personal possession of any individual, neither is it a political bargaining chip to be traded behind closed doors,” he watned.
He therefore, called on Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, all State Chairmen, party leaders and every genuine stakeholder of the ADP to rise above political pressure, intimidation and personal interests and protect the integrity of the party.
“The ADP must not become an instrument for the ambition of any individual, regardless of how powerful or influential that individual may be.
“Our party belongs to its members. Our mandate belongs to the people. And our democracy belongs to Nigeria,” he pointed out.
The Presidential candidate urged the National Chairman and the entire leadership of the ADP to preserve all official records relating to the Presidential Primary, nomination, submission and communication with INEC, and to ensure that no alteration is made outside the lawful and transparent processes prescribed by the party’s constitution and Nigerian electoral law.