Ndume, ADC Trade Words Over Alleged Hiring Of Thugs In Gwoza

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Campaign Council in Borno State have traded accusations over an alleged disruption of an All Progressives Congress (APC) political rally in Gwoza local government Area of the state.

Ndume had accused the ADC of allegedly hiring thugs from outside Gwoza to disrupt the APC rally, while the ADC dismissed the allegation as unfounded and challenged the senator to produce evidence linking the party to the incident.

Ndume, who spoke shortly after the incident on Friday, November 6, 2026, alleged that the suspected thugs were outsiders brought into Gwoza to cause trouble during the APC political activity.

He also questioned the existence of an ADC political structure in Gwoza, saying the party had no known office, posters or visible presence in the local government.

According to him, “There is no ADC yet in Gwoza. Let them come out and show themselves as ADC officials and stakeholders in Gwoza.”

The senator said Gwoza had remained politically active over the years without practising politics of bitterness, warning residents against allowing political differences to divide the community.

“I can, without any doubt, say that there is no ADC in Gwoza,” Ndume said, adding that there was no evidence of an established ADC presence in the area.

He asked residents and political observers to identify any ADC office or campaign posters in Gwoza, saying the party’s activities were largely visible on social media rather than through an established structure within the community.

“Have you seen any ADC office or poster pasted on anybody’s house in Gwoza? As we went around, there is no ADC in Gwoza,” he said.

Ndume also urged residents to remain vigilant and reject any attempt by political actors to import violence into Gwoza, stressing the need to preserve peace and unity in the community.

However, reacting to the allegation, ADC Director of Communications in Borno State, Bukar-Bukar Petrol, denied that the party was involved in any act of violence or disruption of the APC rally.

In a statement yesterday, Bukar-Petrol said the ADC Campaign Council had been informed of Ndume’s allegation and categorically dissociated the party from any act capable of undermining peace and security in Gwoza or any other part of the state.

“The ADC Campaign Council, Borno State, wishes to clearly dissociate itself from any act of violence, civil disorder or activity capable of undermining peace and security in Gwoza or any other part of Borno State,” he said.

He said the ADC’s engagements in Gwoza, including visits to the Emir’s Palace, Pulka, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) settlements and several communities, were peaceful and conducted without confrontation or violence.

“Our engagements with residents across the communities were orderly and conducted in the spirit of democratic participation,” Bukar-Petrol said.

The ADC spokesman challenged Ndume to provide verifiable evidence, including an official police report, establishing that the party disrupted the APC rally.

He argued that the growing interest in the ADC reflected what he described as the people’s search for a credible political alternative, which he attributed to concerns over the performance of the APC and perceived inadequate representation of constituents.

According to him, any dissatisfaction or declining public confidence in elected representatives is a consequence of voters’ assessment of their leaders and should not be blamed on the ADC.

“This is the essence of democratic choice and political competition,” he said.

Bukar-Petrol reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to peaceful political engagement, lawful campaigns and the democratic aspirations of the people of Borno State.