{
  "id": 19428627,
  "title": "Adamawa 2027: When Power Trumps Party Democracy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/adamawa-2027-when-power-trumps-party-democracy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T00:57:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/11/11/adamawa-2027-when-power-trumps-party-democracy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Adamawa State, Nigeria, the controversial selection of Ahmed Tijjani Galadima Aminu as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election has ignited a heated debate about party democracy and the role of elite influence. This issue raises crucial questions about whether political parties can genuinely represent their members' democratic aspirations when nominations are perceived as the result of elite imposition rather than a fair, open process.\n\nPolitical parties are essential institutions in representative democracy, as they organize political competition, aggregate interests, recruit leaders, and provide citizens with election choices. Internal procedures of these parties hold significant importance for both party members and the overall electoral system's credibility. When candidates invest significant time, money, and political capital in contests, they expect the established rules to govern the outcome. If these rules are consistently applied, even a losing candidate may accept defeat more easily. However, when rules are selectively enforced, a loss can be seen as evidence that participation is pointless, leading to dissatisfied members who may withdraw their support.\n\nThe controversy surrounding Galadima's nomination is exacerbated by allegations that he received backing from Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and his brother. Reports from The Guardian and Premium Times highlight concerns about Ribadu's influence on the nomination process, questioning whether Galadima has an independent political base suitable for a statewide contest. These reports also document warnings from party members against allowing the nomination process to become an exercise in blatant imposition, which has, unfortunately, become the case.\n\nThis situation poses a significant challenge for the APC, as the party risks losing its democratic legitimacy. Party leaders cannot simply insist that a candidate has already been declared; instead, they must transparently verify disputed records and adhere to the established procedures. The Movement for Justice in Adamawa State (MOJA) has unambiguously accused Ribadu and his brother of manipulating the process without holding a genuine primary election or reaching a valid consensus, violating the party's constitution and disregarding legitimate petitions addressed to the national chairman and the president.\n\nMOJA's leader, Barr. Hamid Mahmud, emphasizes the undemocratic nature of this situation, pointing out that Nuhu Ribadu, who lost the 2023 APC nomination, should not be in a position to single-handedly nominate the governorship candidate. He argues that Ribadu's past political failures render him unfit to wield such influence. Mahmud further asserts that the current governor, who lost the 2023 election, petitioned the election tribunal over the alleged subversion of justice, and he will publish an affidavit detailing the events before, during, and after the last governorship election if the current nominee continues to meddle with the judiciary.\n\nThe implications of this controversy extend beyond the APC and the state of Adamawa. It challenges the broader Nigerian political landscape, questioning the ability of political parties to maintain democratic principles when faced with elite interference. As the 2027 general elections approach, the outcome of this debate will have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria's political parties, their members, and the overall health of the democratic process.",
  "summary": "By Louis Achi The controversially scripted emergence of Ahmed Tijjani Galadima Aminu as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State for the 2027 election has, not surprisingly,",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}