The ADC membership dispute escalates as a party faction disowns Atiku’s registration, insisting he is not yet recognised and must follow proper procedures

The ADC membership dispute deepened on Monday as the Nafiu Bala-led faction of the African Democratic Congress formally disowned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s registration in Adamawa, insisting he remains an unrecognised member of the party.

Also read: Atiku Abubakar officially joins ADC, boosting opposition

This clarification emerged only hours after Atiku publicly collected his ADC membership card at Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, an event greeted with cheers from supporters and coalition partners.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the ADC Director of Media and Public Affairs, Christopher Okechukwu, declared the Adamawa exercise illegitimate, arguing that those who conducted it had no authority from the party’s national leadership.

He said the individuals involved were not recognised by the ADC National Headquarters and therefore lacked the power to register new members.

Okechukwu noted that Atiku had repeatedly been advised to complete his registration with the duly constituted ward executives in his locality, a step he had yet to take.

He warned that the former vice president’s move could form part of a broader strategy to leverage the ADC while waiting for possible reconciliation with the Peoples Democratic Party, stressing that similar patterns had been seen in the past.

He appealed to Atiku to follow due process, emphasising that the ADC was not a platform for personal ambition but a movement committed to democratic renewal.

He added that Atiku would enjoy full membership rights once he completed registration with the authorised structure.

The fiery rebuttal comes as the party remains locked in a leadership battle, with the legitimacy of David Mark’s national leadership currently before the Federal High Court.

Atiku resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in July after accusing it of abandoning its founding ideals.

During Monday’s ceremony, he declared that real opposition had begun as he received his ADC card, vowing that the opposition would chase the APC out of government.

His registration was supervised by Adamawa ADC chairman Shehu Yohanna and the ADC Registration and Mobilisation Committee, with high-profile figures including former Governor Bindow Jibrilla and Senator Aishatu Binani in attendance.

The spectacle signalled a bold political shift ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku’s move also aligns with a broader opposition coalition involving Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir el-Rufai, Babachir Lawal and other influential politicians who recently agreed to adopt the ADC as a unified front against the ruling APC.

However, with the ADC Membership Dispute now casting a cloud over Atiku’s status, the opposition coalition may face a fresh internal contest as factions within the party struggle to assert control.

Also read: ADC leaders clarify Obi, Atiku absence at secretariat launch

The situation has added a dramatic twist to the evolving political landscape, fuelling speculation and heightening tension within the opposition bloc.