ADC candidate sues party, INEC over alleged forged withdrawal

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By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Zuru/Fakai/Sakaba/Danko-Wasagu Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Abubakar Sadiq Saadu, has challenged an alleged forged affidavit purportedly withdrawing his candidature ahead of the 2027 general election.

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Saadu, in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, described the document as a forgery and urged relevant authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

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He said he had been declared the winner of the ADC primary election for the constituency, after which his name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidate.

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According to him, his attention was recently drawn to an affidavit purportedly sworn on July 28, 2026, before a Commissioner for Oath at the High Court of Justice, Maitama, Abuja.

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He said the document, bearing Affidavit Code 6A68730EA37ED, falsely claimed that he had voluntarily withdrawn from the House of Representatives race.

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Saadu maintained that he neither appeared before the Commissioner for Oath nor signed the document, adding that he did not authorise anyone to swear to the affidavit on his behalf.

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“My passport photograph, which I submitted to the ADC, was used to fraudulently swear the oath,” he alleged.

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He also alleged that the document contained a computer-generated letterhead, an incorrect address and the wrong name of the party, describing it as evidence that the affidavit was not genuine.

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Saadu said he had responded by swearing to a counter-affidavit at the High Court of Justice, Garki, Abuja, on August 14, 2026.

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He added that a suit had been filed over the matter and was scheduled for hearing on Monday, August 17.

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The ADC candidate urged INEC to disregard the purported withdrawal affidavit and verify his status as the duly nominated candidate through its official records.

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He also called on the Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged forgery and identify those responsible.

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Saadu further urged the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory and the Nigerian Bar Association to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged swearing of the affidavit before a Commissioner for Oath.

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He said any judicial officer or legal practitioner found to have been involved should face appropriate disciplinary and legal action.

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The candidate also called on the ADC National Working Committee and the Kebbi State chapter of the party to formally notify INEC and relevant security agencies of his status as the authentic candidate and disown the alleged forged documents.

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Saadu also urged INEC and the party to disregard a purported plan to conduct another primary election for the constituency on August 18 and 19, describing it as an attempt to undermine his candidature.

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He alleged that the person being positioned as his replacement was not a member of the ADC when INEC’s online membership registration closed, and therefore could not validly replace him as the party’s candidate.

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“Therefore, no possibility for him to replace any candidate with a valid primary,” he said, warning that failure to address the matter promptly could create tension in the constituency.

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He reaffirmed his commitment to representing the people of Zuru/Fakai/Sakaba/Danko-Wasagu Federal Constituency, insisting that their mandate was not for sale.

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Saadu said he would pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channels and ensure that all those responsible were held accountable under the law.

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