The Chieftain of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Shuaibu Idris Miqati has dismissed the claims by All Progressive Congress (APC) that the party is dead in Kaduna State, saying that it will bounce back to relevance before the 2027 governorship after surmounting it’s challenges.

Miqati who is a Gubernatorial Aspirant of ADC in Kaduna, expressed the hope of vying for the position of Governor after the legal battle confronting the Party presently is resolved.

Reacting to the statement by the Kaduna State Government, he said that “the outburst that the ADC is dead in Kaduna State to my mind is unfounded and misguided”, pointing out that “proponents of this position are entitled to their opinion; while I usually don’t like to join issues with anyone, i make bold to state, yes ADC is indeed facing challenges in Kaduna State and in most other states but to say it’s dead I believe most sincerely is an exaggeration of the state of affairs of the party.”

The former stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State, Miqati argued that “the mechanisms that brought about the party, the challenges of securing a certificate of registration for a new party gave rise to the coalition of like minds to join hands to beep up ADC”.

He remarked, “naturally whether due to external interference or selfish interest of some people, coalition may not be 100 per cent perfect. Certain disgruntled elements may abound and caused the challenges. This is what has happened to ADC. Majority of the legacy members of the party have seen reasons to align their position to the coalition while a few have not seen the point. Both new and old members know that we need one another.”

He said, “with regards to the position of the party in Kaduna State, we have series of challenges. Leadership is one. Legacy leaders and the coalition leaders, litigation on leadership position, continued detention of former Governor Mallam Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai unjustly, primary elections debacle, are amongst the many multi faceted issues bedeveling the party.”

Miqati explained , “we need to come clean and be honest to ourselves by noting the issues. We can’t claim there are no challenges or problems or even difficulties. But is the party dead? I will say certainly NO! It’s alive kicking and even waxing stronger. We are poist to take the leadership of the State. If I can say, can someone be pronounced dead simply because the person has headache? I suggest the ruling party should trade on the path of caution and not to be carried away by euphoria and euphemism”.

On why the leaders of ADC remained mute on whether the party is dead in Kaduna, he said, “Iam not in a position to defend or speak on behalf of any of the Chairmen. The leaders are still battling with challenges of cohesion while the new leaders elected under the coalition are yet to be sworn in.”

” This may be the reason behind the silence. It may also be a strategy to keep the proponents of the theory that the party is dead to continue in their delusion. I believe we all know the the truth. People are known to have had cancer, stroke, or other major ailments yet they are cured. The challenges of the party would soon be over once I regain the snatched mandate given to me by party members”, he added.

” Furthermore, ADC had as at last count over 3 million members. Even the rally in Zaria where the statement was made purported that about 200 thousand members of the party left the ADC for APC. Assuming this is true, the party is still left with over 2.7 million members. We have structures at the state, local, and ward levels and thus can’t be said to be dead by the exit of few members no matter how powerful or strong they may be”, Miqati stressed.

On whether the party is facing problem of funding and prosecuting it’s campaign in Kaduna, he said, “in general resources are scarce. No one person, government, or institution can claim to have sufficient funds or resources. Everyone needs more! Paucity of funds in the current situation shouldn’t be new or surprising. Even the current leaders in power are treding on the path of caution. It’s important to realise that strategy of managing resources and careful spending as the elections are over three months away. It’s my firm belief that very soon you will get a detailed campaign program both at the National and States levels”.

He further stressed, “Court cases abound all over so a few candidates are also jittery because they are not sure of the outcome of the court process hence the delay in releasing campaign program. My take is by end of this month and latest early next month, you would firm programs for campaigns and an improvement in spending, donations would also begin to materialise. If the court declares me as the bonafide winner of the primary election for Kaduna State governorship seat, as soon as the court certify me and my name is uploaded in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server, I will come out with a detailed program and you would see changes and improvements”.