By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Fresh concerns have emerged within the Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the composition of the party’s 2027 campaign structure, with some long-standing members demanding greater inclusion in the allocation of strategic positions.
The development followed a stakeholders’ meeting of ADC members from Kaduna Zones I and II, where Senator Musa Bello reportedly expressed concern over what he described as the marginalization of members who had built the party’s structures before the arrival of prominent political figures.
The position was contained in a statement signed by the ADC Kaduna State Publicity Secretary, Engineer Idris Musa.
Bello called for the protection of the party’s structures from the state to the ward level, stressing the need for equity and consultation in the distribution of campaign and other strategic responsibilities.
According to him, some members had been with the ADC for almost two years before the arrival of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former governorship candidate Isah Ashiru and their supporters.
“We cannot fold our arms and watch as critical positions are allocated without due consideration for those who have built and sustained the party from the beginning,” Bello said.
The senator, however, reaffirmed his commitment to the ADC and the governorship ambition of Ashiru, while insisting that the contributions of founding and early members should be recognised in the composition of the campaign council and any future political arrangement.
Bello identified the reported appointment of El-Rufai as Chairman of the Campaign Council and Hon. Mukhtar Baloni as Secretary as a major source of concern among some stakeholders.
He also raised questions over the emergence of Hajiya Hafsat M. Baba as North-West Zonal Chairperson and the selection of the Deputy Governorship Candidate, describing the developments as reflecting an imbalance in the distribution of strategic positions.
“The issue of the Campaign Chairman and Secretary must be revisited. This is not a matter we are prepared to simply let go. We have legitimate interests, and those interests must be respected,” he stated.
He added that the stakeholders were not opposed to the participation of new entrants, but wanted decisions to be based on fairness, consultation and inclusiveness.
“We are not saying that anyone should be excluded, but there must be fairness and proper consultation. And going forward, no other strategic appointment should be made without carrying the stakeholders along,” Bello said.
The Kaduna chieftain further warned that concentrating sensitive positions within one political bloc could create a sense of exclusion among other members and affect internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.
He consequently appealed to Ashiru to provide inclusive leadership and convene consultations on power-sharing, campaign responsibilities and mobilisation.
“The goal is not to create winners and losers, but to build a broad-based coalition where every stakeholder feels respected and represented,” he said.
At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders reportedly reaffirmed their loyalty to Bello and the ADC governorship project, while calling for greater dialogue, unity and coordination within the party.
The development comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns within the ADC over the integration of prominent political figures and the management of the party’s existing structures. Similar debates have been reported in Kaduna and other parts of the country as the party expands its political coalition ahead of 2027.
For the Kaduna chapter, the immediate challenge is how to accommodate newer political entrants while maintaining the participation and confidence of members who say they built the party’s grassroots structures.
