The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Borno State is confronting an escalating crisis, as its Critical Youths Stakeholders Forum (CYSF) has issued a strong warning against the infiltration of political opportunists ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a press conference in Maiduguri, Hon. Yusuf Sheriff Banki, the CYSF Chairman, announced that the party will no longer tolerate attempts by individuals seeking to compromise its structure for personal gain.

Banki alleged that these actors—mostly Abuja-based and politically invisible in their home constituencies—are plotting, possibly in alliance with elements of the state’s ruling party, to weaken the ADC. He described the party as the new political “bride” of Borno State. The CYSF vowed to continue registering new members across the state and to maintain an environment free of ethnic or religious bias. The group also pledged to expose any politician attempting to undermine the party’s integrity, stressing the ADC’s commitment to internal reform.

Expanding on their concerns, Banki accused the unnamed politicians of desperately trying to hijack the party’s structure for personal relevance and survival. He said these figures have a long history of being easily compromised, operating within the opposition since 1999, and treating political platforms as tools for self-preservation. Their loyalty, he claimed, evaporates “like kerosene when heat is applied,” as they move from one party to another in search of temporary influence.

These individuals, Banki asserted, are now working to plant their cronies within the ADC, aiming to “auction the party” and trade its soul for personal gain—an activity he labelled their “usual stock in trade.” He urged the party’s founding members, who have invested their own resources to keep the ADC afloat, not to allow politicians with only a “sprinkling of followers” to seize control and attempt to install themselves as CEOs of the Borno chapter.

Banki insisted that the ADC in Borno State is not for sale, emphasizing that its values and structure will not be handed over to transactional politicians seeking a new platform for personal profit. He recalled earlier attempts by these same actors to sabotage the successful unveiling of the ADC in the state. The CYSF has called on the national leadership of the ADC to intervene, identify, and expel these disruptive elements to protect the party’s future.