A governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, Shuaibu Idris Miqati, has dismissed claims by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the opposition party is dead in the state, describing the assertion as an exaggeration of its current challenges.
Miqati said although the ADC was facing internal disputes and other difficulties arising from the coalition that strengthened the party, it remained active and was consolidating its structures ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The governorship candidate, a chartered accountant, chartered personnel manager, marketing executive and chartered director, said the party was determined to challenge the ruling APC and take over leadership of Kaduna State.
In an interview, Miqati acknowledged that the ADC was experiencing challenges in Kaduna and other states but maintained that the situation did not justify suggestions that the party had collapsed.
“Proponents of this position are entitled to their opinion. While I usually don’t like to join issues with anyone, I make bold to state that, yes, the ADC is indeed facing challenges in Kaduna State and in most other states, but to say it’s dead, I believe most sincerely, is an exaggeration of the state of affairs of the party,” he said.
He explained that the ADC had been strengthened by a coalition of like-minded political actors who opted to work together rather than face the difficulties associated with registering a new political party.
According to him, however, the coalition has encountered disagreements involving some legacy members and new entrants, alongside what he described as external interference.
Miqati said most of the party’s legacy members had recognised the need to work with the coalition, adding that both old and new members had important roles to play in strengthening the ADC.
“Majority of the legacy members of the party have seen reasons to align their position to the coalition, while a few have not seen the point. Both new and old members know that we need one another,” he said.
On the challenges confronting the ADC in Kaduna State, the aspirant identified leadership disagreements between legacy and coalition members, court cases over leadership positions, the continued detention of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and disputes surrounding primary elections as some of the issues affecting the party.
He, however, insisted that the challenges were not enough to undermine the party’s political prospects.
“We can’t claim there are no challenges or problems or even difficulties. But is the party dead? I will say certainly no! It’s alive, kicking and even waxing stronger. We are poised to take the leadership,” Miqati said.
He added that the ruling party should not assume that the ADC had lost its relevance because of its internal difficulties.
“Can someone be pronounced dead simply because the person has a headache? I suggest the ruling party should tread on the path of caution and not be carried away by euphoria and euphemism,” he said.
Reacting to the silence of the APC state chairman over the claim that the ADC was dead, Miqati said he could not speak on behalf of the chairman but suggested that the situation might be linked to unresolved disagreements among the party’s legacy members and the delay in formalising the positions of the new coalition leaders.
He also suggested that the silence might be a political strategy to allow those promoting the narrative of the ADC’s collapse to continue believing it.
On why the ADC had yet to unveil its campaign programme and dates for the 2027 election, Miqati said the party was not behind schedule, arguing that there was still sufficient time to prepare for the poll.
“The elections are set to come up in January next year. This is October; I believe there is still time. Remember the adage that a day can be longer than a year in politics. We shall surprise you and surprise all,” he said.
Miqati also acknowledged that limited funding was a challenge for the party but maintained that the problem was not peculiar to the ADC.
“Funding or, in general, resources are scarce. No one person, government or institution can claim to have sufficient funds or resources. Everyone needs more. Even the current leaders in power are treading on the path of caution,” he said.
He explained that the party was being strategic with its spending, considering the time remaining before the election, while expressing optimism that detailed campaign programmes would be released at both national and state levels by the end of October or early November.
The aspirant attributed part of the delay to ongoing court cases, which he said had created uncertainty over the status of some candidates.
Miqati, who said he began his political career in 2005, disclosed that he contested the Kaduna State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007, 2011 and 2019 but did not advance beyond the party’s primary election stage.
He said his decision to join the ADC was based on principle and followed challenges within the PDP.
Describing himself as the bona fide winner of the ADC governorship primary in Kaduna State, Miqati said he was awaiting the court’s confirmation of his candidacy and the uploading of his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) portal.
“As the bona fide winner of the primary election for Kaduna State governorship seat, as soon as the court certifies me and my name is uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server, I will come out with a detailed programme, and you would see changes and improvements,” he said.
