In the shifting sands of Adamawa’s political landscape, absence has become as loud as presence. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), once buoyed by a formidable fusion of political heavyweights, now finds itself grappling with a defining dilemma: who will fly its 2027 governorship flag, and how far can that flag truly fly?
This question, whispered in corridors and debated in marketplaces, has grown into a chorus of concern across the state and beyond. At the heart of this unfolding drama lies the disintegration of a once-promising coalition.
During the formative fervor of the *Sabuwar Tafiya* movement, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar struck a resonant chord while receiving Sallah homage in Yola from the “Binani Ambassadors,” loyalists of Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani. Atiku’s words were both prophetic and poignant: he suggested that when the forces of Binani, the Nyako dynasty, Senator Ishaku Abbo, and his own influence converge, no political power in Adamawa State could prevail against such a coalition of titans.
But what was once a confluence has become a fragmentation. The early optimism that accompanied the coalition’s migration into the ADC has since withered under the weight of internal intrigue and perceived political paranoia.
Within the party ranks, Binani’s burgeoning popularity was no longer viewed as an asset, but as an existential threat. According to Hon. Umar Bello Jada (popularly known as “Calculate”), calculated maneuvers, subtle sidelining, and strategic suppression emerged—not to strengthen the party, but to shrink her influence.
In politics, perception is power. In this case, that perception appears to have precipitated a mass departure.
The Nyako bloc has since retraced its steps to the APC. Binani and her supporters, bound by strategy and synergy, have exited the ADC to chart a new course. Meanwhile, Senator Abbo remains disenchanted, citing disenfranchisement based on faith-based bias and distancing himself from what his supporters described as a “charade” congress held in contempt of court.
What remains is a party stripped of its strongest structures, its grassroots grip loosened, and its internal cohesion contested through litigation that could nullify its recent congresses.
“Calculate” offers a stark summation: without these titanic pillars, the ADC’s remaining support base may not exceed a modest fraction of the electorate. In contrast, he contends that the Binani faction and Abbo’s movement command a compelling combination of financial independence, formidable field structures, and a deep, durable connection with the grassroots.
The Binani faction’s next political destination is already being framed as a future fortress, capable of not only eclipsing the ADC but emerging as the most credible opposition force in Adamawa.
Meanwhile, the APC faces its own gathering storm. Retaining or reclaiming power in a state known for undercurrents of internal dissent will require more than mere endorsements; it demands a candidate of substance, stature, and statewide acceptance. Without this, the familiar fissures of anti-party activity could fracture the foundation and fuel a formidable challenge from rivals.
Adamawa stands at a political crossroads where alliances are dissolving and ambitions are realigning. In this theatre of strategy and survival, one truth rings clear: parties may provide the platforms, but people provide the power. In the end, it is not the banner that determines the battle, but the bearers behind it.
Anastasia John E,
Online Editor, OBSERVERS TIMES
