Gongola or No Vote: Adamawa Communities Dig In Their Heels, Warn Politicians

“…We have been taking money from politicians but remained without identity“

By Emmanuel Kwada 

Indigenous ethnic nationalities across Adamawa State have issued a firm ultimatum to politicians eyeing the governorship in the 2027 general elections: champion the reversion of the state’s name from Adamawa back to Gongola, or forget their votes.

This resolute stance has emerged consistently during outreach visits by the Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF), an umbrella socio-cultural organization dedicated to uniting the state’s indigenous peoples, promoting their cultural identity, and advancing their socio-political interests both nationally and internationally.

In a recent interactive session in Song Local Government Area, representatives from various ethnic groups spanning different political affiliations unanimously reiterated their demand.

They described Gongola as the authentic collective cultural identity of over 85 indigenous ethnic nationalities that inhabited and governed the region long before 1750, engaging in shared cultural practices.

Examples include the Bachama of Numan LGA and Mbula people of Demsa LGA, as well as the Yungur of Song and Luguda of Guyuk LGAs.

The communities argued that the name Gongola predates and is unrelated to the Gongola River; instead, the river derived its name from the area it traverses.

They contended that renaming the state to Adamawa after Modibbo Adama, founder of the Adamawa Emirate effectively handed the region to a single ethnic group that arrived about a century and a half ago, amid what they describe as indigeneity controversies, and was favored by colonial authorities for cooperation.

Speakers emphasized that successive politicians have failed to address this identity concern, leaving indigenous peoples marginalized and misidentified externally as Hausa-Fulani.

“We have been taking money from politicians but remained without identity!” one representative declared. “Other Nigerians call us Hausa-Fulani, but that’s not who we are. Name identifies you more than money. Adamawa is not our identity; we are Gongola people. If you want to be our governor, you must identify with our plight to revert Adamawa State to Gongola State or no deal!”

The gathering praised Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s efforts in restoring pre-colonial chiefdoms, creating new ones, and reviving cultural identities that had been nearly erased under feudal and colonial influences.

These actions, they said, have sparked an unstoppable identity renaissance that money politics cannot suppress.

Responding on behalf of the GPF, team leader Chief Medan Fwa mni described the demand as a recurring theme in every community visited by the forum. He affirmed that while GPF remains non-partisan in electoral politics, it stands boldly on matters of identity.

Chief Fwa announced plans to compile a special report on the issue for consideration by the GPF’s council of elders. He urged the people of Song and across the state to reject divisive political narratives that portray indigenous groups as unable to unite due to differences. “Those lies intensify during campaigns to divide and rule us,” he said.

He commended the large turnout in Song for engaging with the GPF and learning about its programs, calling it a positive step toward collective action.

The campaign reflects broader sentiments among indigenous groups in Adamawa, who argue that the current name excludes the majority of the state’s diverse ethnic nationalities.

GPF leaders have previously stated that support in future elections, including 2027, will hinge on candidates’ willingness to advocate for the name change.

Reverting a state’s name would require a constitutional amendment, needing approval from two-thirds of the National Assembly and two-thirds of state assemblies a challenging process but the communities appear determined to make identity a key electoral issue.

As the 2027 elections approach, this growing movement could significantly influence political strategies in Adamawa State, where cultural pride and historical grievances are increasingly shaping voter priorities.

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