BORNO State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has dismissed speculation in some sections of the media that he would lead five other governors in defecting to the opposition coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Zulum, in a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, described the rumour as an unfounded fabrication by unscrupulous elements seeking relevance.
The governor reiterated his loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement quoted the governor as saying, “We have become aware of a fictitious and mischievous social media report circulating in certain quarters, alleging plans by me to decamp from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside five other governors.”
“This is entirely false and exists only in the imagination of its sponsors. They are detractors who have made no meaningful contribution to the progress of Borno State or Nigeria. It is a classic example of cheap, politically motivated speculation designed solely to distract us and create unnecessary political tension.”
“My loyalty to the APC remains firm, and my dedication is solely to the welfare and progress of Borno State.”
Zulum urged the people of Borno and the general public to disregard the speculation.
According to him, the state government has no time for “cheap politics” as “our hands are full with the noble task of rebuilding and developing our dear state”.
“I call on media outlets and the public to verify information from credible official sources and to ignore the desperate fabrications of those seeking relevance through disinformation.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to serving Borno State under the banner of our great party, the APC,” the statement added.
Following months of talks about a political coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, a group of opposition leaders adopted the ADC as the platform for the coalition movement.
Among them are a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, who emerged as the ADC’s interim national secretary.
Also included are a former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and a former Senate President, David Mark, who was appointed as the interim national chairman of the party, among others.
