Nigeria: Party Suspends Bauchi Chairman Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bauchi State Chapter, has suspended its state chairman, Mallam Hassan Haruna, over allegations of anti-party activities and actions capable of destabilising the party.

It also accused Haruna of creating parallel party structures at ward and local government levels by recognising different sets of executives, an act it described as factionalisation and a violation of Article 15(A) of the ADC Constitution.

At a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, the opposition party acting state chairman, Alhaji Mahmood Hassan Tabla, said the ADC remains a duly registered political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and one of the most credible opposition parties in Nigeria.

Tabla explained that chairmen of the party in the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State, acting within their constitutional powers, constituted a disciplinary committee which issued a formal query to Haruna over the allegations.

According to him, Haruna failed to respond to the query, prompting the committee to recommend his suspension. The recommendation was subsequently approved by the local government chairmen in line with Articles 14(B) and 15(B) of the ADC Constitution.

He added that the suspended chairman was duly informed of his right to appeal the decision within 14 days, as provided under Article 15(D) of the Constitution.

"Rather than respond to the allegations or exercise his right of appeal, Mallam Hassan Haruna issued a press statement dated 18th January, 2026, and convened a meeting on 19th January, 2026, where he announced a list of 20 individuals as chairmen of the party in the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State," Tabla said.

He noted that the same day coincided with a meeting where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (Wazirin Adamawa) and ADC national chairman, Senator David Mark, received a delegation of Bauchi State stakeholders, a development, he said, could be verified publicly through social media posts.

Tabla further disclosed that after the expiration of the 14-day appeal window, the ward and local government executives issued Circular No. BA/01/003/2026, formally removing Haruna as state chairman and directing him, as deputy chairman, to assume the office in an acting capacity.

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