What began as a routine party primary has rapidly transformed into a simmering political storm, with aggrieved constituents in Adamawa State demanding what they describe as fairness, fidelity and fidelity to both party principles and constitutional provisions.
The controversy centres on the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency seat in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, where allegations of ineligibility, disputed identity and questions of political domicile have ignited fresh tensions within the ruling party.
For many residents, the dispute is not merely about a ticket but about representation, recognition and respect for the political realities of communities that have long struggled to preserve their distinct electoral identities.
At the heart of the growing grievance is the emergence of Mr. Filibus Eli Musa as the winner of the APC primary conducted on May 20, 2026.
Constituents challenging the outcome insist that the result contradicts an existing political understanding within the party following the defection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
According to the constituents, the arrangement was designed to protect the interests of the APC's legacy structure by allowing constituencies and local government areas previously secured by the party in the 2023 elections to retain their political space within the new coalition.
Under that understanding, they argue, Hon. Babangida Mohammed Njidda, the incumbent lawmaker representing Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency and a longstanding APC figure, should have remained the party's natural and eligible candidate for continuity.
The aggrieved constituents contend that beyond questions of political agreement lies a more fundamental issue of constitutional qualification.
They point out that Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area is politically partitioned into two separate state constituencies: Nassarawo/Binyeri and Mayo-Belwa.
Though united by geography, the two constituencies maintain distinct wards, electoral structures and political jurisdictions.
According to stakeholders, Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency comprises Nassarawo Jereng, Mayo Farang, Gorobi, Bajama, Tola, Binyeri and Gangfada wards, while Mayo-Belwa State Constituency consists of Mbilla, Yoffo, Ribadu, Gengle and Ndikong wards.
The constituents maintain that Mr. Filibus Eli Musa hails from Yolde Gubudo in Ribadu Ward, an area situated within Mayo-Belwa State Constituency rather than Nassarawo/Binyeri.
To them, this distinction is neither technical nor trivial. "It goes to the very foundation of representation," one community stakeholder remarked.
"Every constituency has its identity, its voice and its voters. The law and the spirit of democracy demand that those seeking to represent a constituency genuinely belong to it."
The constituents therefore argue that Filibus was constitutionally eligible only to contest from Mayo-Belwa State Constituency and not from Nassarawo/Binyeri, where he eventually participated in the APC primary.
Adding another layer to the controversy, the constituents cited voter registration records they claim show that Filibus' Permanent Voter Card is linked to Karewa Primary School II Polling Unit in Karewa Registration Area of Yola North Local Government Area.
If verified, they argue, the records could further complicate claims regarding his political domicile and eligibility within Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency.
Political pundits pointed out that these allegations collectively paint a picture of what they describe as a profound procedural breach capable of undermining the integrity of the party's internal democratic process.
Consequently, the constituents have called on the APC leadership at both state and national levels to immediately review the outcome of the primary election, disqualify Filibus Eli Musa and recognise Hon. Babangida Mohammed Njidda as the rightful winner of the contest.
They further maintain that Babangida secured 862 votes during the primary exercise and remains the only aspirant who fully satisfies the constituency requirements and the political understanding reached within the party.
Beyond the legal and procedural arguments, however, lies a deeper concern reverberating across the communities of Nassarawo, Binyeri and neighbouring wards, a fear that unresolved grievances could fracture party cohesion ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Political pundits warn that the dispute represents a critical test of the APC's capacity to balance coalition politics with grassroots expectations.
How the party handles the matter, they argue, could either strengthen confidence in its internal democratic mechanisms or deepen divisions within one of Adamawa's strategically important political zones.
As grievances gravitate and passions rise, constituents continue to await a definitive response from party authorities.
Until then, the battle for the Nassarawo/Binyeri ticket remains beyond a contest between two aspirants, it has become a larger conversation about legitimacy, locality, loyalty and the delicate dance between political power and popular mandate.
In the fertile fields and bustling communities of Mayo-Belwa, the question now echoing through village squares, party meetings and political gatherings is simple yet significant: Who truly speaks for Nassarawo/Binyeri and who should carry its banner into the next electoral battle?
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