The Katsina State Congress Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disowned a parallel state congress allegedly conducted by some members of the party, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.
The committee chairman, Atiku Abubakar-Saleh, made the position known in Katsina on Tuesday while reacting to enquiries from journalists over reports of factional congress activities in the state.
Some party members had earlier in the day reportedly held a separate congress, despite an ongoing official schedule set by the party leadership.
Abubakar-Saleh, who also serves as the ADC Deputy National Organising Secretary, insisted that the committee was duly constituted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct credible and transparent congresses across the state.
He explained that the exercise was proceeding in line with a recent court pronouncement which cleared the way for the party to continue preparations for its congresses.
According to him, the approved timetable stipulates that ward and local government congresses will hold on Wednesday, while the state congress is scheduled for Thursday.
He added that the NWC had also approved the constitution of key committees, including a Screening Committee headed by Dr. Sulaiman Maiyawo, to ensure due process and strict adherence to the party’s constitution.
The chairman stressed that only the officially recognised congress committee and screening committee are authorised to conduct congress-related activities in Katsina State.
He warned that any parallel exercise carried out outside the approved structures would be considered “null, void and of no effect.”
Abubakar-Saleh described the reported parallel congress as an attempt to undermine party unity and disrupt its internal democratic process.
He urged members, stakeholders and the public to disregard unauthorised activities and align with the official process.
The committee chairman also called on security agencies to monitor developments closely and prevent any actions capable of breaching public peace under the guise of party congresses.
He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to delivering a peaceful, transparent and credible congress in line with the directives of the party’s national leadership.
