ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens in Bauchi as Sacked Chairman Rejects Removal

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Bauchi State has intensified, with the embattled State Chairman, Mallam Hassan Haruna, rejecting his reported removal.

Speaking with Daily Sun, Haruna described the actions of the faction led by his deputy, Alhaji Mahmood Hassan Tabla, as unconstitutional and unlawful.

Haruna, who spoke to our correspondent by telephone, insisted that he remains the duly elected chairman of the party, accusing what he described as the “Tabla-led faction” of acting contrary to both the ADC Constitution and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

According to him, the process required to remove an elected state chairman was not followed.

“There is no way a few local government chairmen can just gather and claim they have removed a state chairman,” Haruna said.

 “Our party constitution is clear. Bauchi State has 20 local government chairmen, and at least two-thirds must be involved before such a decision can be valid. 

“Only six out of the 20 met and claimed they removed me. That is completely wrong.”

He maintained that he was elected chairman at the national level and has not been lawfully removed.

“As far as I am concerned, I remain the Bauchi State Chairman of the ADC. Nobody has removed me,” he declared.

Haruna further accused the opposing faction of attempting to forcibly take over the party’s state office, alleging that the matter was reported to security agencies.

“They blocked the road and attempted to seize the state office. 

“We reported the situation to the security agencies, and before they arrived, the group ran away,” he said,.

He said that the matter is already before a court of law and should be resolved judicially.

While acknowledging the existence of a pending court case, Haruna questioned why the other faction did not wait for the court’s judgment instead of, in his words, “taking the law into their hands.”

He reiterated his commitment to peace, urging party members to remain calm and loyal to the party’s constitution.

“I am not quarrelling with anybody. I believe in peace, order, and progress. I told my supporters not to fight anyone and to allow the security agencies and the courts to do their work. We will attend court and abide by the law,” he said.

Earlier, the ADC Acting Chairman, Alhaji Mahmood Hassan Tabla, had announced that Haruna was removed following disciplinary actions initiated by ward and local government executives over alleged anti-party activities.

Tabla added that a Bauchi State High Court had issued an interim injunction restraining Haruna and others from parading themselves as party executives pending further hearing.

The court has adjourned the matter to 19 February 2026, as both factions await judicial determination of the leadership dispute.