An aspirant in the House of Representatives primary election of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hawwah Abdullahi Gambo, has petitioned the party’s Election Petition Tribunal over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the poll held on Monday.
In a formal petition dated May 27, 2026, addressed to the ADC National Chairman and copied to the party’s Director of Political Matters, National Women Leader, and the Election Petition Tribunal, Gambo alleged that she was unlawfully excluded from the electoral process despite being a duly cleared aspirant.
Gambo stated that she was the only female among the four contenders seeking the party’s ticket for the federal constituency seat.
She claimed that her name was deliberately removed from the election roll, while her supporters were allegedly informed by election officials that “there was no woman among the aspirants,” she had stepped down or was not cleared during screening.
According to her, the ADC primaries, which were postponed three times before they were finally conducted on May 25, 2026, were only in theory.
She said: “First, election materials were delayed. People waited from 8.00 am till 4.00 pm which was when the materials arrived at the different centres and distributed to the various wards.”
She added that the location of centres in several wards in Chikun LG was arbitrarily moved without reason, notice or clear communication as to where the election was holding.
She added: “People went to indicated centres and waited forever while the election held in undisclosed locations.
“In Kajuru Local Government where there was a semblance of an election, except there was clear vote buying, voter intimidation, harassment and general electoral malpractice.
“Conclusively, there was no election in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, especially for that of the seat of the House of Representatives. What happened was a manipulative process that was done at the expense of the people’s will and freedom of choice.
“My supporters in Chikun LG who were able to find the centers where the primaries are holding were I had stepped down, did not pass screening or that I am not an aspirant at all.
“I, Hawwah Abdullahi Gambo, contest the results of the elections for the seat of House of Representatives Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.
“I call on this noble tribunal to thoroughly investigate what happened on Monday, 25th May, 2026 at both Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency elections, especially at Chikun LG.
“I call on this noble tribunal to find the truth and ensure due process and the people’s will is respected.”
Gambo listed 11 witnesses to the petition, including herself, and urged the tribunal to thoroughly investigate and assess what happened in order to ensure justice is done to her and the people of the Constituency.
She noted that the ADC “is a party that was built on the principles of gender inclusivity, equal opportunity and fair play,” saying, “These are values that must be maintained if the ADC will stand the test of time.”
As of the time of filing this report, the ADC leadership had not issued an official response to the allegations contained in the petition.
