ADP Candidate Rejects Alleged Ticket Plot, Calls It “Grave Assault

According to IReporter Online, Abbas expressed his concerns in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Friday.

The candidate warned that any attempt to substitute his name without his approval and outside the recognised legal and internal party procedures would undermine democratic principles and the rights of party members and supporters.

However, Abbas did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the alleged plot, saying only that he had received information indicating that political pressure was being mounted over the party’s presidential candidacy.

He insisted that any decision concerning the ADP presidential ticket must comply with the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, the party’s constitution and regulations, as well as applicable procedures established by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Abbas maintained that he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through the recognised nomination process and argued that any subsequent decision affecting the ticket must be transparent, lawful and properly documented.

He also rejected the idea that the presidential ticket could be used as a bargaining instrument in political negotiations, stressing that his mandate should not be traded privately or altered behind closed doors.

The ADP candidate called on the party’s National Chairman, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, members of the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, state chairmen and other stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the presidential nomination process.

He further urged the party leadership to preserve all official documents and records relating to the presidential primary, nomination process, submission of documents and communications with INEC.

According to Abbas, any change to the presidential ticket should only take place through procedures that are lawful, transparent and verifiable.

He warned that allowing individuals or groups to secretly manipulate the ticket could damage the confidence of party members and supporters ahead of the 2027 elections.

The presidential candidate urged political stakeholders to respect the rights of party members and allow established democratic processes to determine the party’s candidates.

Abbas maintained that the ADP presidential ticket belongs to the party and its members rather than any individual, insisting that it should not become the subject of private political negotiations.

He called on party members and supporters to remain committed to democratic principles while urging the leadership to ensure that every decision concerning the 2027 presidential ticket complies with the party’s constitution and Nigeria’s electoral laws.