The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State held an expanded leadership meeting on Tuesday at the Paramount Event Center in Katsina. The gathering brought together stakeholders from all 361 wards across the state's 34 local government areas. The meeting was convened to prepare for party congresses scheduled to begin April 9, 2026, progressing from polling units to the national convention on April 14, 2026.
Mustapha Inuwa, a party chieftain and former APC governorship candidate in Katsina, disclosed that the party is considering consensus as a mode of candidate selection. He stated that the opposition is better positioned to adopt consensus if the ruling party cannot conduct direct primaries. Inuwa urged members to remain calm, united, and committed to due process, emphasizing that the party welcomes internal competition.
Inuwa criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration, claiming it has severely damaged the northern economy. He cited specific examples: three bags of maize are needed to buy one bag of garri, one jerry can of palm oil, or one measure of bitter kola. He noted that Hajj pilgrims from the North must sell one and a half trailers of maize, while cocoa farmers need to sell three to four bags to fund the pilgrimage.
He also highlighted economic losses in trade, such as a grocery seller who lost N100,000 on a shipment to the South, and cattle traders receiving only two-thirds of their livestock's value. Inuwa added that many schools in frontline LGAs have been taken over or destroyed by bandits, and urban students are dropping out due to poverty.
Mustapha Inuwa's detailed account of trade imbalances—like needing three bags of maize to buy one bag of garri—exposes the depth of regional economic strain under the current administration. His position as a former APC governorship candidate gives weight to his critique, suggesting growing dissent within northern political circles. For Nigerians, especially in the North, this signals that economic grievances are becoming central to political realignment, not just rhetoric. The ADC's push for consensus may gain traction if economic discontent continues to erode confidence in the ruling party.
