Atiku May Lose ADC Membership As Party Gives Him  Ultimatum

By Akinwale Kasali

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate at the 2023 Election has been given an ultimatum by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Adamawa State Chapter, to pick his Membership Card or risk losing recognition as a member of the Party.

Shehu Yohanna, Adamawa State Chairman of the ADC, said the Party has unveiled its membership register, and stressed that only those with valid membership cards would be acknowledged.

In an interview with Punch Newspaper, Yohanna said, “Atiku Abubakar should go to his ward in Jada Local Government and register, Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Federal Government 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.

“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 someone to hold a leadership position in the party at the national level without being a registered member. That makes a caricature of the party,” Yohanna declared.

It would be recalled that recently, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, had reaffirmed that the Caucus’ resolution was that all Coalition members resign from their current parties and register fully with the ADC—a directive dismissed as inconsequential by both the APC and PDP.

Atiku’s much-publicised membership registration, initially scheduled for August in his hometown of Jada, was suspended indefinitely last month without explanation.

Political observers are of the opinion that the former Vice President is weighing his chances of clinching the ADC’s Presidential ticket, particularly in light of the growing influence of Peter Obi’s political movement within the Party. Speculation is that he is afraid of putting his all his eggs in one basket.

Yohanna, however, dismissed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, as incapable of defeating the ADC in the 2027 general elections.

He added that the ADC boasts politically influential figures and is prepared to wrestle power from the APC administration.

“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 said.