YOLA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and other top politicians in its fold: register at your wards before the end of 2025 or risk losing party recognition.
Adamawa ADC Chairman, Shehu Yohanna, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH in Yola, stressing that the party has unveiled a new membership register and only card-carrying members will be acknowledged.
“Atiku Abubakar should go to his ward in Jada Local Government and register, Babachir should go to his ward in Hong Local Government and register. That is the only way they can be treated as legitimate members of the party,” Yohanna said.
“You cannot be taking decisions for a party you are not constitutionally a member of. All of you should register for the greatness of our party. It is illegal for anyone to hold a leadership position at the national level without being a registered member,” he added.
National Directive and Atiku’s Position
Last week, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, reaffirmed the party’s resolution that all coalition members must resign from their current political parties and register fully with the ADC. The directive was dismissed as inconsequential by both the APC and PDP.
Atiku’s much-publicised membership registration in his hometown of Jada was scheduled for August but was indefinitely suspended last month without explanation.
Party insiders suggest the former Vice President is weighing his options on contesting for the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket, particularly with the rising influence of Peter Obi’s movement within the party.
ADC’s Confidence Ahead of 2027
Yohanna dismissed both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP as incapable of stopping the ADC in the next general elections.
“The unfriendly policies of the present government have paved the way for our party to take over and reposition the country for authentic democracy,” he declared.
On internal disputes, Yohanna insisted he remains the legitimate Adamawa State chairman.
“My tenure expires in 2026 based on the party’s constitution. Nobody can remove me from office. The ADC is not the estate of anyone; it is a political party registered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo,” he said.
He also boasted that ADC’s governorship aspirants in Adamawa and across Nigeria have some of the strongest political credentials in the country.
