ABUJA/Nigeria: The Presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas, has alleged an attempt to replace him as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Abbas made the allegation in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Friday, August 14, 2026.
He alleged that political pressure was being mounted on the National Chairman of the ADP, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, to substitute his name without his consent.
Abbas warned that any attempt to withdraw or replace his candidacy must comply with the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the ADP constitution and 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.
In the statement titled, “No Secret Substitution of My Presidential Mandate: Protect the Integrity of the ADP,” Abbas alleged that a Presidential candidate of an opposition party was behind the pressure allegedly being mounted on the ADP leadership.
He claimed that the objective was to have his name secretly substituted as the ADP Presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Abbas, the alleged move was part of an effort to produce a single Presidential candidate from Northern Nigeria by eliminating competing political voices.
“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,” he said.
Abbas said Nigeria’s democratic process should not be subjected to the interests of individual politicians or political establishments.
“Let me state this clearly: Nigeria’s democracy cannot be held hostage by the personal ambitions of any individual or political establishment,” he said.
The ADP candidate said he emerged through the recognised processes of the party and argued that his candidacy should not be treated as an item for private political negotiation.
“My mandate is not a personal possession of any individual, neither is it a political bargaining chip to be traded behind closed doors,” he said.
He appealed to the ADP National Chairman, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, State Chairmen, party leaders and other stakeholders to protect the party’s internal processes and resist what he described as political pressure and intimidation.
“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 said.
Abbas also called on the party leadership to preserve all official records relating to the Presidential primary, nomination process, submission of documents and communications with INEC.
He urged the party to ensure that any alteration to its Presidential ticket is carried out only through the procedures provided by its constitution and applicable electoral laws.
