ADC Rival Confident Of Defeating Ndume In Senate Race

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate, Alhaji Idris Gatumbwa Mamman Durkwa, has expressed confidence of defeating incumbent Senator Ali Ndume in the 2027 Southern Borno Senate race.

Durkwa spoke yesterday after his affirmation as the ADC consensus candidate for the southern Borno Senate contest in Maiduguri.

The former APC governorship aspirant in Borno who later defected to ADC, said his campaign would focus on security, youth empowerment, education and fair representation across the zone.

He argued that voters in Southern Borno were ready for a change in representation after nearly two decades of Ndume holding the seat.

“The people have spoken, and with their support, we will reclaim this seat for the zone,” Durkwa said.

LEADERSHIP reports that the African Democratic Congress has on Saturday affirmed its three consensus candidates for the Borno South, North and Central Senatorial seats in the forthcoming general elections.

According to the party, Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwa emerged as candidate for Borno South, while Bulama Fugu Ibrahim emerged for (Borno North), as Babagana Zanna is for Borno Central Senatorial ticket.

Durkwa said, “I am humbled by the overwhelming support and solidarity demonstrated by the leadership of our party at all levels, traditional and religious leaders, elders, stakeholders, party supporters, youth and women groups, and indeed the entire people of Southern Borno for the confidence reposed in me to contest as Senator on the platform of our great party in the forthcoming 2027 polls.

“This affirmation is a reflection of the trust and confidence the teeming ADC Stakeholders/members of Southern Borno have continued to place in our collective vision to ensure progress, inclusion and development.

“This is not just about one individual; it is about our people coming together in unity to deepen democracy and build a stronger and more prosperous Borno South through good representation.

“It is no longer news that our people have suffered severe neglect orchestrated by poor representation at the National Assembly, which have caused Southern Borno to continue suffer lack of good roads and network connectivity, potable drinking water and other basic social infrastructures.

“Our zone which was recognised as a safer area even during the peak of the insurgency, has now turned into a battlefield due to poor representation.

“Our innocent people, especially the resilient ones in Chibok, Gwoza, Damboa, Askira-Uba, Hawul and even Biu now leaves in fear and despair due to unconfrontational killings, abductions, and destruction of hard- earned property by the citizenry.

” This is unacceptable, and when elected as your Senator, we shall work closely with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and our security agencies to do the needful.

“By the will of Allah, if given the mandate, collectively we shall operate an open-door policy, with inclusivity. We shall intensify efforts aimed to address or nip in the bud the issue of insurgency and other forms of insecurity bedevilling our constituents.”

Continuing, he said, “We shall also lobby the executives to invest heavily in education and vocational training to reduce further the number of out-of-school children, combat illiteracy—particularly in rural communities—and equip our youth/women with skills for self-reliance and productivity, as well as give more priority to agricultural empowerment to ensure food sufficiency/security. ”