A former Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, has warned against changing political party rules after candidates have emerged from nomination processes, saying such practices could undermine the development of political parties as institutions.
Usman had emerged as the All Progressives Congress, APC, consensus candidate for Lavun/Edati/Mokwa Federal Constituency.
His name was subsequently replaced on the party’s candidate list, a development he is challenging in court.
He spoke in Minna during the inauguration of the Amana Tinubu/Bago Support Group.
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Explaining his decision to pursue the matter in court, Usman said the issue went beyond his personal political ambition, stressing that political parties must be governed by established rules.
“I have nothing to lose. It is for challenging the system,” he stated.
According to him, failure by members to challenge questionable processes could encourage a situation where party rules are disregarded at will.
“If you don’t take the courage to challenge the system and we keep on being very distant, ‘Oh, it is the party, he has the power to do so,’ it will get to a level that one day they will just announce that we are starting the primary,” he said.
Usman said such a situation could ultimately make established nomination procedures meaningless, as individuals could emerge without participating in the process.
He said his legal challenge was therefore also aimed at strengthening political parties.
According to him, “We should develop a political party as an institution. We cannot allow them to be acting with impunity, having the rules and then adjusting the rules and then go and do the other thing.”
Usman who is the convener of the Amana Tinubu/Bago Support Group, stated that he remained committed to the APC despite the dispute over the ticket, explaining that the support group was formed by his supporters to continue mobilising for the party.
“What we are doing is to campaign for the party,” he said.
He explained that the group would support APC candidates across the ballot, from the presidency and governorship to the National Assembly and state House of Assembly.
Usman also disclosed that he would return to Mokwa and other parts of the constituency to meet supporters and explain the situation to them.
He said meetings had already been held in the three local government areas, with further ward-level engagements planned.
The former Speaker said the recent court proceedings had also given his supporters renewed hope.
Chairman of the support group, Hussaini Abdullahi, said the organisation would work to reconcile supporters and sustain mobilisation for the APC while the legal process continues.
The APC had earlier presented Usman as its consensus candidate for the constituency before subsequently replacing his name on its candidate list.
Yusuf Abdullahi Itas, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Itas/Gadau State Constituency, has withdrawn from the 2027 general election. Itas, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), announced his decision in a letter dated October 5, 2026, addressed to the party’s state chairman.
In the letter titled, “Withdrawal of Candidature for the Itas/Gadau State Constituency Seat in the Bauchi State House of Assembly,” the lawmaker formally informed the party that he would no longer contest the seat in the 2027 election.
He described his decision as “entirely voluntary and personal”.
He thanked the APM leadership and its members for giving him the opportunity to represent the party.
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Itas also expressed appreciation to residents of the constituency for their encouragement and support during his time in office.
The lawmaker is the Chairman of the House Committee on Petitions and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
His withdrawal comes less than three weeks after the Bauchi Assembly Chief Whip, Musa Wakili Nakwada, also announced that he would not contest the 2027 elections.
Welcome to Jos Ghetto Stories — a new Jos Events series created to tell the stories that are often overlooked, but should never be forgotten.
From the narrow streets of Gangare, Nasarawa, Angwan Rogo, Jenta-Adamu, Congo-Russia, Tudun Wada, Katako, Dadin Kowa, Bukuru and other communities across Jos, there are children growing up surrounded by challenges many of us may never fully understand.
Some wake up without knowing where their next meal will come from.
Some go to school with torn shoes.
Some live in crowded homes, struggle to afford basic needs, or watch their parents battle every day just to keep the family going.
And some are already beginning to believe that because they were born into hardship, hardship is all life has to offer them.
But we are here to tell them something different.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME GREAT.
Your address does not determine your destiny.
The street you grew up on does not decide the height you can reach.
Poverty may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the final chapter.
Look at Jos.
This city has produced and nurtured people who have gone on to make their mark far beyond the streets where their journeys began.
John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa went from Jos to becoming aome of Nigeria’s most recognisable footballers, they all grew up from the Ghetto streets of Jos and made it in life through football to the point of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Jeremiah Gyang, M.I Abaga and Ice Prince carried the sound and creativity of Jos into the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
P-Square and 2Baba are among the major names whose stories are connected to Jos.
Saint Obi,Dayo Okeniyi took their journey from Jos into international acting, while filmmakers Dimbo Atiya and Kenneth Gyang, have used film to tell stories that travel far beyond home.
And there are many more whose names may not yet be famous—but whose stories prove that greatness can rise from ordinary beginnings. 
So when we walk through the streets of Jos and meet these children, we are not looking at “ghetto children.”
We are looking at future doctors, engineers, footballers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, leaders, creatives and nation builders.
We are looking at potential.
We are looking at dreams waiting for an opportunity.
Because sometimes, all a child needs is somebody to look them in the eyes and say:
“I believe in you.”
That is what Jos Ghetto Stories is about.
We will tell the stories of the streets.
We will show the struggles.
We will celebrate the talent.
We will listen to the dreams.
And most importantly, we will remind every young person watching that you can become the best version of yourself, regardless of where you started.
Your parents may not have everything.
Your environment may not be perfect.
You may not have the opportunities others have.
But never allow your circumstances to convince you that you cannot become somebody.
The world may see a child from the slum.
We see a future star.
The world may see a difficult beginning.
We see a story waiting to become extraordinary.
This is Jos Ghetto Stories.
Stories from the streets.
Stories of struggle.
Stories of hope.
Stories of talent.
Stories of resilience.
Stories of people who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
Because from the streets of Jos, greatness can rise.
And perhaps, the next great story is the child standing beside you.