ADC Demands State Of Emergency In Katsina, Zamfara Over Worsening Banditry
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency in Katsina and Zamfara States, citing the worsening insecurity and activities of bandits in the region.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said during an interview with Arise News on Thursday that armed groups had taken control of several parts of Zamfara, imposing levies on residents, abducting citizens and carrying out killings without resistance.
“We have information that bandits have taken over large swathes of Zamfara, extracting taxes from citizens, abducting people, and slaughtering them.
“If you could declare a state of emergency in Rivers, where no lives were lost, what stops you from doing the same in Zamfara, where Nigerians are being killed daily?” Abdullahi queried.
He clarified that the ADC was not calling for the removal of elected governors but demanding extraordinary measures to restore peace and order in the affected states.
The party spokesman also reacted to recent comments by the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised Nigerians to learn survival and self-defence skills, describing the remark as an admission of government failure.
“By saying people should learn to defend themselves, he was admitting that what we have in place is inadequate. I agree completely with that. But the government still has the constitutional duty to protect lives,” Abdullahi stressed.
On the party’s internal affairs, Abdullahi dismissed as “false and recycled” the claim by Nafiu Bala that he had assumed the leadership of the ADC, insisting that Bala resigned and evidence had been provided.
“This notion of crisis is good for the headlines, but there is no crisis in the ADC. The man resigned, and we provided evidence. If he claims otherwise, that’s a crime he should report to the police, not call press conferences,” Abdullahi maintained.
He added that the National Executive Committee (NEC) remained empowered by the party’s constitution to act on behalf of the convention, stressing that all decisions taken would eventually be ratified.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Abdullahi dismissed early presidential declarations by political figures as mere distractions, noting that the ADC was focused on strengthening its national structures.
“Atiku says he will run, Obi says he will run, Amaechi says he will run; that does not stop anyone else.
“What we are committed to is a level playing ground. We will pursue consensus, and if that fails, we will hold competitive primaries. For us, the focus is on building a fighting structure, not rushing into zoning conversations,” he concluded.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
