The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the reported suspension of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, describing the move as null, void, and lacking any legal or constitutional backing within the party.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in an interview, rejected the action outright, stating that those behind the announcement had no authority to sanction party leaders.
“There’s nothing to it. It doesn’t make sense. Those saying they suspended Atiku and Babachir Lawal do not have the power to do that. They are just jesters,” Abdullahi said.
The reaction followed a press conference in Adamawa State where a factional chairman, Raji Zumo, announced the suspension of Atiku, Lawal, and the party’s transition committee chairman, Sadiq Ibrahim. Zumo accused the trio of fostering disunity, creating parallel party structures, undermining lawful authority, and disregarding a subsisting court order.
However, the national leadership of the ADC has distanced itself from the move, insisting that the faction lacks legitimacy.
The controversy comes amid deepening internal divisions within the party’s national structure. Rival factions led by Nafiu Bala Gombe and Kingsley Ogga—both reportedly expelled during the party’s national convention—have continued to lay claim to the position of national chairman.
The crisis had earlier drawn the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which withdrew recognition of the party’s leadership structures pending resolution of the dispute.
Despite the turmoil, the faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark maintains that the party remains intact following its national convention.
Meanwhile, a party chieftain, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, strongly condemned the purported suspension, describing it as a “callous act” orchestrated by what he termed a “non-existing faction” in Adamawa State.
Eze further alleged that the move was driven by political desperation and external influence, warning against attempts to destabilise opposition figures ahead of future elections. He insisted that no individual or group could diminish Atiku’s political relevance in Adamawa or Nigeria at large.
The ADC continues to grapple with internal leadership disputes as it seeks to stabilise its structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Comments