Alhaji Ahmed Bashir, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aspirant for the Jada/Ganye/Mayo Belwa/Toungo (JAGAMATO) Federal Constituency, has raised serious allegations of electoral manipulation, claiming his hard-earned mandate was hijacked and handed over to Adamu Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a no-holds-barred interview, Bashir described the incident as “daylight robbery” and “the worst form of rape on democracy,” warning that such actions could damage Atiku’s democratic credentials and ultimately undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
Bashir, who said he had invested over two years of intensive grassroots mobilisation across the constituency, stated that he was returned unopposed as the candidate after his only rival, Suleiman Gangwaso, withdrew from the race.
He expressed shock when Adamu Atiku Abubakar, who had been contesting for the Adamawa South Senatorial ticket, was announced as the House of Representatives candidate for JAGAMATO.
“I found it difficult to understand how Adamu Atiku Abubakar, who did not contest or participate in the election, was whimsically announced as the flagbearer,” Bashir said. “This is a clear case of my mandate being forcefully taken away and given to the son of the most powerful man in the party.”
According to Bashir, as of Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Adamu Atiku Abubakar was actively pursuing the senatorial seat, having purchased forms and campaigned for it. However, on Thursday, May 21, 2026, a social media video emerged declaring him the ADC candidate for the JAGAMATO Federal Constituency.
The aspirant accused powerful forces within the party of orchestrating the alleged substitution, describing it as a tyrannical display of power that favours the children of influential politicians over ordinary aspirants who worked hard on the ground.
“This exemplifies that even in democracy, the weak have no rights and cannot compete favourably against the sons and daughters of powerful power brokers,” he lamented.
“I criss-crossed all villages and hamlets, built a strong grassroots network, and invested heavily in time, energy, and resources, only for my victory to be taken away because I am the son of nobody.”
Bashir warned that if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar supported or allowed the alleged injustice to stand, he would lose the moral authority to criticise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“By that, he has automatically lost the moral latitude to challenge the iniquities of the ruling party,” Bashir said. “Even the APC conducted a semblance of election, but in our case, a non-aspirant was declared winner in a shambolic arrangement.”
He further predicted that allowing such practices to thrive would lead to the death of democracy, stressing that true democracy must protect both the privileged and the less privileged.
The controversy has sparked fresh concerns about internal democracy within the ADC in Adamawa State, especially as the party positions itself as a viable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As at the time of filing this report, neither the ADC state leadership nor representatives of the Atiku family had issued an official response to the allegations. Political observers in Adamawa, however, say the development could trigger a serious crisis within the party’s ranks in the JAGAMATO federal constituency.