2027: Rival challenges INEC's list for Katsina ADC governorship candidate

Salisu Uli, who wants to be the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Katsina State, has gone to court. He is challenging the nomination of former senator Ahmad Kaita, who is listed as a candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 election.

Mr Uli told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday that his team filed a motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja over a month ago. The next hearing is set for 19 October.

He explained there was no need to complain to INEC since the court is already handling the issue. "To be fair to INEC, INEC published the list in case anybody has a complaint or a petition to make," he said. "We are already in court, so we don’t need to complain about anything for now."

INEC’s final list of governorship candidates for Katsina State includes Mr Kaita, a former senator for Katsina North District, as the ADC candidate, with Yar’Adua Ahmed as his running mate. Mr Uli’s name is not on this list.

He disputes the list’s finality, saying only the courts can decide if the nomination is valid. "Some people are calling it a final list. This list cannot be final because it’s only the courts that can decide whether a list is final or not," he said.

Dispute over primary

Mr Uli accused the ADC of not holding a valid governorship primary. He claims his team followed the electoral timetable. "We participated in primary elections, you know, at the stipulated time because we did our primary election on the 20th. And they did not do any primary election," he said.

He pointed out parts of the Electoral Act and the Constitution that guide party primaries and internal democracy. He argued that Mr Kaita’s nomination did not follow the required steps. Mr Uli said they are ready to take the case to higher courts if needed.

"If they win, we will appeal. We’ll go to the Court of Appeal. If they win at the Court of Appeal, we’ll go to the Supreme Court," he said. The claims about the primaries have not been proven. The court documents and any orders related to the case were not available for review.

‘I will not leave ADC’

Despite the ongoing dispute, Mr Uli said he will not switch to another party if the courts back Mr Kaita’s nomination. When asked if he would join a different party if Mr Kaita wins at the Supreme Court, he replied: "No, no, I will not decamp to any political party; we’ll support them."

He confirmed he will stay in the ADC, explaining: "Because we are in the same ADC."

In an earlier interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Uli denied claims that he was a proxy for Katsina Governor Dikko Radda to split the opposition. He insisted that the legitimate ADC leadership nominated him.

Katsina governorship contest

INEC’s published list also includes Governor Umaru Dikko Radda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and Garba Yakubu Lado as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. Mr Radda is aiming for a second term, while the ADC is one of the parties contesting against the APC in the state.

The disagreement between Messrs Kaita and Uli is happening amid issues surrounding the ADC’s leadership and nomination processes. Even though INEC has listed Mr Kaita’s name, Mr Uli insists that only the courts can decide if his nomination is valid.