Ndume, ADC Trade Accusations Over Alleged Disruption Of APC Rally In Borno

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.

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

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

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

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 maintained that Gwoza had remained politically active over the years without engaging in 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, insisting that there was no evidence of an established ADC presence in the area.

He challenged residents and political observers to identify any ADC office or campaign posters in Gwoza, arguing that the party’s activities were largely visible on social media rather than through an established political 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, the ADC Director of Communications in Borno State, Bukar-Bukar Petrol, denied the party’s involvement in any act of violence or disruption of the APC rally.

In a statement on Monday, 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 explained that 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 was responsible for disrupting 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 what he called inadequate representation of constituents.

According to him, any dissatisfaction or declining public confidence in elected representatives was 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.