“I am nobody’s proxy; my candidacy came from God”, Governorship candidate

Salisu Uli, a governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nigeria's Katsina State, is working to unify the party and position it as a viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections. Uli, who was nominated by a specific faction, faces the challenge of bridging divisions within the ADC, which have led to legal disputes and ongoing reconciliation efforts.

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As far as I am concerned, and it is a universally accepted fact, there is strength in unity. Party cohesion is very instrumental to victory in any election. Therefore, where we have disagreements within the party, our responsibility is to extend hands of friendship, engage people, appeal to them and encourage them to come together.

In a telephone interview, Uli dismissed allegations that he is a proxy candidate, stating, "I am nobody’s proxy; my candidacy came from God." He stressed that party cohesion is crucial for electoral success and pledged to extend friendship and engage with all members to foster unity. Uli highlighted the pressing issues facing Katsina State, including insecurity, poverty, weak healthcare and education systems, youth unemployment, and corruption, asserting these should be the focus of political debate.

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The people of Katsina are facing insecurity, poverty, hunger, weak healthcare services, fragile education, youth unemployment, lack of transparency in governance, lack of industries and corruption. Those are the issues we should be focusing on as we seek to build a new Katsina State.

Addressing the internal divisions, Uli suggested that confusion arises when individuals operate outside the party's recognized structures and procedures. He believes that neglecting established leadership, constitutional provisions, and established processes inevitably leads to difficulties. Uli indicated that significant efforts have been made towards reconciliation, including extensive discussions and a prolonged meeting in Kano.

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Political parties are governed by structures and procedures. My view is that when people attempt to operate outside recognised party structures, confusion becomes inevitable. The party exists for a reason. There are recognised leaders, constitutional provisions and established procedures. Once those structures are neglected, difficulties naturally arise. That is what I believe has happened.

Uli plans to present a seven-point agenda for Katsina State, aiming to tackle the multifaceted challenges confronting the region. His candidacy and the ADC's internal dynamics are unfolding against the backdrop of Katsina's broader struggles with insecurity, unemployment, and economic pressures, all of which are expected to shape the political landscape leading up to the 2027 governorship election.

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We made serious efforts to reconcile. There were extensive discussions involving both sides, including a meeting in Kano that lasted through the night and into the following day.