Frontline Adamawa APC governorship candidate Salihu withdraws from race following Abuja directive

Mustapha Salihu, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Adamawa State, has withdrawn from the race.

The announcement, made public on Wednesday night, surprised observers who had noted that Salihu, backed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, was leading the field.

The withdrawal is explained in a public notice issued by Salihu’s campaign team.

The Comrade Mustapha Salihu Campaign Organization, with a notice signed by its Head of Strategic Communication, Ahmad Sajoh, stated that “following directives from the leadership of the party at the National level,” Salihu has stepped down from the gubernatorial primary election.

The notice added that Salihu will now “take up the senatorial candidature” of the central senatorial zone.

As a result, the senatorial primary in Adamawa Central— which had not been held when primaries in other zones were conducted—was scheduled to be conducted under these new arrangements.

Salihu had been supported by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, while Ahmed Galadima, whom Salihu relinquished the candidacy to, is the candidate endorsed by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.