The senatorial aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Amb. Dr. Mubarak Ahmad Tijjani, has called on the party leadership to disqualify Senator Ireti Kingibe from the forthcoming ADC senatorial primaries over her alleged failure to appear before the party’s screening committee.
Tijjani, in a petition submitted to the ADC national leadership and the FCT Screening Committee, accused the senator of deliberately evading the party’s mandatory screening exercise while allegedly working to influence the disqualification of other aspirants in a bid to secure an automatic ticket.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the aspirant described any attempt to circumvent the party’s laid-down procedures as a threat to internal democracy within the ADC.
“A candidate who cannot face her own party’s Screening Committee is fundamentally unfit to face the FCT electorate,” Tijjani stated.
According to him, the ADC constitution and electoral guidelines clearly provide that any aspirant who fails to participate in the screening exercise stands disqualified from the party’s primary election process.
“The rules are clear. If you do not attend the screening, you are disqualified from the primary. You cannot evade the process and then seek an uncontested ticket through the backdoor,” he said.
Tijjani, an international business executive and convener of the FCT Architects of Change movement, further argued that the political landscape in the nation’s capital had evolved beyond what he described as “political imposition.”
He warned that any attempt by the party leadership to bend the rules in favour of any aspirant could spark legal disputes and deepen dissatisfaction among party members, particularly youths and grassroots supporters aligned with his campaign.
“The residents of the FCT, especially the youth population, are watching closely. We have presented a Blueprint for a Working FCT centred on economic growth and financial inclusion. We have complied with all party requirements, mobilised delegates, and participated in the screening process. The democratic rights of delegates must be respected,” he added.
The aspirant also appealed to the ADC National Chairman, the National Organising Secretary, and members of the FCT Screening Committee to uphold the integrity of the party by enforcing its rules and ensuring a transparent and credible primary election process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As of the time of filing this report, the ADC leadership and Senator Ireti Kingibe had yet to officially respond to the allegations.
