‎”Elections Won by Ideas, Not Intimidation” — Team Omarana Accuses Ruling Party of Selective Enforcement, Seeks Level Playing Field

By Emmanuel Kwada

The campaign team of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Amb. (Engr.) Omar Suleiman, has dismissed allegations linking him to the defacement of public facilities with campaign posters in Yola, describing the claims as politically motivated and aimed at undermining the opposition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Team Omarana Ambassadors and signed by its Chairman, Sa’ad Adamu Esq., the group called for a transparent investigation into the incident and accused the ruling party of attempting to criminalize political opponents instead of engaging in issue-based campaigns.

The group questioned the basis of the allegations against Suleiman, insisting that authorities should first identify those responsible for posting the campaign materials before attributing blame to any individual or political party.

According to the statement, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the identity of the individuals who allegedly pasted the posters, their affiliations, and who authorized the action.

The campaign team also demanded to know which government agency initiated the complaint and whether due process was followed in pursuing the matter.

Raising concerns over what it described as selective enforcement of the law, the group noted that campaign posters from various political parties are visible in public places across Yola and other local government areas of the state.

It argued that no similar actions had been taken against other parties, alleging that the focus on the ADC candidate amounted to political persecution.

“Elections should be won through ideas, performance, and service delivery, not by criminalizing political opponents,” the statement said.

The group urged the Adamawa State Government, security agencies, and electoral authorities to ensure a level playing field for all political actors and safeguard democratic principles.

Defending the character of the ADC flagbearer, the campaign organization described Amb. Omar Suleiman as a law-abiding leader with a track record of institution-building and public service.

“It is illogical and politically motivated to suggest that he would endorse the destruction or defacement of public property,” the statement added.

The campaign team further alleged that the accusations reflected growing anxiety among political opponents who, it claimed, were seeking distractions instead of addressing the developmental challenges facing the state.

Calling for calm and fairness, the group demanded an independent and transparent investigation to identify those truly responsible for the alleged poster defacement.

It also called for an end to what it described as harassment of opposition figures and urged all stakeholders to focus on substantive issues affecting residents, including road infrastructure, education, healthcare, job creation, and security.

The statement concluded by expressing confidence that the people of Adamawa would judge political actors based on their records, ideas, and commitment to development rather than propaganda and political intimidation.