Senator Ali Ndume has threatened to declare the African Democratic Congress (ADC) persona non grata in Gwoza, Borno State, if members of the opposition party attempt to cause trouble during political activities in the area ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), issued the warning amid growing controversy over an alleged disruption of an APC political gathering in Gwoza.
The senator maintained that the ruling party enjoyed strong support in the community and would not tolerate any attempt by opposition groups to introduce violence into its political activities.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume questioned the political relevance of the ADC in Gwoza and warned that the opposition party could face resistance if its activities resulted in unrest.
“If ADC is coming to Gwoza with problems, they will be surprised; we will declare them non-grata,” Ndume warned.
He further insisted that the APC remained the dominant political force in the area, dismissing suggestions that the opposition party had established a significant presence among residents.
“In Gwoza, it’s APC; we don’t know ADC,” he added.
During the television interview, programme host Seun Okinbaloye asked the senator whether residents of Gwoza were dissatisfied with the APC and whether the alleged incident reflected growing opposition to the ruling party.
Ndume rejected the suggestion, maintaining that the situation in the community did not support claims that residents were turning against the APC.
“Not in Gwoza.”
The lawmaker also argued that political activities in Gwoza had traditionally been conducted without the kind of hostility currently being alleged between supporters of different political parties.
He expressed concern that the controversy surrounding the opposition party’s activities could affect the peaceful political atmosphere in the community, particularly as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.
Ndume maintained that political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into violence or confrontation.
He also suggested that the people of Gwoza would not accept attempts by any political group to disrupt activities in the area.
His comments followed an earlier accusation against the ADC over an alleged incident involving an APC political gathering on November 6.
The senator had accused the opposition party of bringing political thugs from outside Gwoza to disrupt the event.
He questioned why individuals who were allegedly not residents of the community would be involved in activities capable of creating tension during a political gathering.
Ndume also challenged the ADC’s political standing in the area, claiming that the party lacked an established structure and visible organisational presence in Gwoza.
According to him, the opposition party had no identifiable office or established campaign activities that could demonstrate a strong political presence in the community.
The allegations have, however, been rejected by the Borno State chapter of the ADC, which accused the senator of making claims without providing credible evidence.
The party’s Campaign Council dismissed the suggestion that it had recruited political thugs or organised any violent action against the APC.
Bukar Bukar-Petrol, Director of Communications of the Borno State ADC Campaign Council, maintained that the party’s activities in Gwoza had been peaceful.
He specifically referred to the party’s engagements in the community, including visits to the Emir’s Palace, Pulka and settlements occupied by internally displaced persons.
The ADC maintained that these engagements were conducted without violence or any attempt to disrupt the activities of other political parties.
The campaign council also challenged Ndume to provide verifiable evidence to support his allegation that ADC members were responsible for the reported disruption.
It called on the senator to produce relevant documentation, including an official police report, linking members or supporters of the opposition party to the alleged incident.
Nonetheless, the allegations surrounding the November 6 incident have yet to be independently established in the information provided by both parties.
Ndume’s claims remain disputed by the ADC, which has demanded evidence to substantiate them.
