Three aggrieved candidates of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Kebbi State have denied allegations that they are being sponsored to undermine the party’s governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami.

The candidates, Abubakar Sadiq Sa’adu Fakai, Muhammad Umar and Nafiu Bello Shuwa, are challenging in court their alleged replacement after emerging as candidates from the party’s primaries.

In a statement jointly signed on Saturday, the candidates described allegations that they were being sponsored to cause a crisis in the party as baseless.

They also accused some party members of forging affidavits and other documents purportedly indicating that they had voluntarily withdrawn their candidacies.

“For clarification’s sake, we are not fighting Malami, ADC, or anybody, but we remain undeterred in our legal struggle to reclaim our stolen mandates by the alleged forgers in our party, whom we believe are not after the success of our party,” they said.

Fakai, who spoke on behalf of the candidates, said allegations that they were being sponsored would not deter them from pursuing their cases in court.

He maintained that they remained valid candidates and were exercising their right to seek redress through the courts and other lawful channels.

Fakai further alleged that the purported forgery went beyond an internal party dispute, describing it as a criminal offence punishable by law.

He also accused those claiming to support Malami and the ADC of engaging in actions capable of creating divisions within the party and undermining the governorship candidate’s chances.

The three candidates reaffirmed their loyalty to the ADC and other members of the party whom they described as lawful and loyal, while maintaining their resolve to pursue their legal challenges.