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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, insisting that it remains active and determined to challenge for political power.
Miqati, who spoke on the state of the party, its leadership crisis and preparations for the forthcoming governorship election, acknowledged that the ADC was facing internal challenges but described suggestions that it had collapsed as an exaggeration. Blueprint reports
The chartered accountant, chartered personnel manager, marketing executive and chartered director, who is also a member of the National Institute (mni) and a director of several companies, said the party remained capable of overcoming its difficulties and presenting a strong challenge in Kaduna State.
He maintained that the ADC’s challenges were not unusual for a political platform that had expanded through a coalition of different political interests, adding that both longstanding members and new entrants needed one another to build a viable opposition party.
‘You cannot declare a man dead because he has a headache’
Reacting to claims that the ADC was dead in Kaduna State, Miqati said those making such assertions were entitled to their opinions but cautioned against mistaking internal disagreements for the collapse of the party.
“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, yes, 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 argued that political disagreements and organisational difficulties should not be interpreted as proof that a party had ceased to exist, insisting that the ADC was still active and working towards strengthening its structure.
“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.
Using an analogy to reinforce his position, he asked: “Can someone be pronounced dead simply because the person has headache?”
He urged the ruling APC not to be carried away by what he described as political euphoria, expressing confidence that the ADC would remain relevant in the contest for leadership in Kaduna State.
Coalition politics behind party’s internal tensions
Miqati explained that the ADC had been strengthened by a coalition of like-minded political actors who came together against the difficulties associated with registering a new political party.
However, he acknowledged that the coming together of different political interests had created tensions, with disagreements involving some longstanding party members and those who joined through the coalition.
According to him, external interference and dissatisfaction among some members had contributed to the friction within the party.
He said the majority of the legacy members had recognised the need to work with the coalition, while a smaller group remained unconvinced about the arrangement.
“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.
Miqati’s comments underscore the challenge facing political parties that seek to consolidate support by bringing together different groups, particularly when questions of leadership, influence and candidate selection arise.
He maintained that the way forward for the ADC was to manage its differences and build cooperation among its various interests rather than allow internal disagreements to define its public image.
Leadership tussle, court cases threaten cohesion
On the challenges confronting the ADC in Kaduna State, Miqati identified disputes between legacy members and coalition leaders, litigation over leadership positions, the continued detention of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and disagreements surrounding primary elections as some of the issues affecting the party.
He said the multiplicity of these issues had complicated the party’s efforts to establish a unified structure and move decisively towards its campaign activities.
Leadership disputes and court cases can create uncertainty over who is authorised to speak for a party, make organisational decisions or represent it in electoral processes. Such uncertainty may also affect preparations by candidates who require clarity on their status before fully launching their campaigns.
Miqati, however, insisted that these difficulties did not amount to the death of the ADC, maintaining that the party had the capacity to resolve its differences and strengthen its political organisation.
He also suggested that the unresolved issues surrounding the party’s leadership could partly explain the silence of the APC state chairman on the controversy over claims that the ADC was dead.
“I cannot speak for any chairman,” he said, while suggesting that the silence might be connected to the unresolved cohesion among legacy leaders and the fact that the new coalition leaders were yet to be sworn in.
He added that the silence could also allow proponents of the claim to continue promoting their position, insisting that the actual state of the ADC was different from the picture being presented by its critics.
Miqati defends delay in campaign rollout
The ADC governorship candidate also defended the party’s decision not to release a detailed campaign programme and dates, arguing that it was not too late to begin its activities.
Miqati said the electoral timetable still allowed the party time to organise its campaign, adding that political developments could change rapidly and that a well-planned strategy remained important.
“The elections are set to come up in January next year. This is October, I believe there is still time. Remember the adage, ‘a day can be longer than a year in politics’! We shall surprise you and surprise all!” he said.
He expressed optimism that the party would unveil a detailed campaign programme at both national and state levels by the end of October or early November.
According to him, the delay was partly linked to ongoing court cases, which had left some candidates uncertain about their status and the next steps they could take.
Miqati said he was confident about his position as the winner of the ADC governorship primary in Kaduna State but noted that the legal process remained important to confirming his status.
“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 in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server, I will come out with a detailed programme and you would see changes and improvements. Your concerns would be history, In Shaa Allah,” he declared.
His statement indicates that the formal confirmation of his candidacy remains a significant consideration in determining the timing and scope of his campaign activities.
Funding constraints and alleged removal of posters
Miqati also acknowledged concerns about the ADC’s financial capacity, admitting that limited resources could affect campaign planning and mobilisation.
He, however, argued that funding constraints were not peculiar to the ADC, maintaining that political organisations, individuals and institutions generally faced competing demands on their resources.
“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 described careful spending as a strategic decision, particularly with several weeks remaining before the anticipated election period, and suggested that the party needed to deploy its resources in a way that would maximise its reach and impact.
The governorship candidate also addressed allegations that ADC posters were being removed by the ruling party. While the issue formed part of the concerns surrounding the party’s campaign environment, the supplied interview did not establish who was responsible for the alleged removals.
The claims could not be independently confirmed from the information provided.
Miqati’s remarks reflect the broader challenges facing opposition parties as they seek to build visibility, mobilise supporters and compete with an incumbent political organisation with established structures.
Miqati recounts political journey
The ADC candidate said his political journey began in 2005 and that he contested for governor in Kaduna State in 2007, 2011 and 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said he did not progress beyond the party’s primary election stage during those attempts before eventually leaving the PDP for the ADC, citing principles and challenges within his former political platform.
Miqati described his decision to join the ADC as a response to the difficulties that had affected the PDP, adding that he believed the opposition coalition offered an alternative platform through which he could pursue his political ambitions.
His experience, he suggested, had given him an understanding of the challenges associated with seeking political office, party organisation and the process of securing a governorship ticket.
He now says he is ready to take his campaign to the electorate once the court process and the formal confirmation of his candidacy are concluded.
ADC faces test of unity ahead of election
Miqati’s defence of the ADC comes as the party confronts the task of resolving its internal disagreements while preparing for the next electoral contest in Kaduna State.
The combination of leadership disputes, litigation, disagreements over primaries and concerns about campaign resources presents a challenge to the party’s ability to project a united front.
At the same time, Miqati’s position is that these difficulties should be treated as problems to be resolved rather than evidence that the party has ceased to be politically relevant.
His call for cooperation between legacy members and coalition entrants highlights the importance of reconciling competing interests if the ADC is to build a cohesive campaign structure.
For now, the candidate says the party is not dead and remains determined to challenge for power in Kaduna State. He has expressed confidence that a detailed campaign programme will be unveiled once the outstanding legal issues surrounding his candidacy are resolved.
Whether the party can translate that confidence into a united structure, effective mobilisation and a competitive campaign will depend on how quickly it addresses its internal disputes and clarifies the leadership and candidacy questions affecting its preparations.
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