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By Lizzy Chirkpi
A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Nafiu Bala, has dismissed the registration of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Adamawa State, insisting that he is not yet an officially acknowledged member of the party.
Just hours after Atiku obtained his ADC membership card at Jada 1 Ward, the faction released a statement through Christopher Okechukwu, the party’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, declaring the exercise void. According to the group, the registration was conducted by individuals who are “not authorised by the national leadership.”
The Bala-led faction argued that Atiku has not undergone the formal registration procedures required by the legitimate ward executives. It cautioned that the former vice president’s move could be part of a political strategy to leverage the ADC while keeping the door open for a possible reconciliation with the PDP.
They urged Atiku to adhere to proper protocols, stressing that the party is “a movement for democratic reform, not a tool for personal ambition.” The faction added that he would be granted full membership once he completes the official process.
This controversy emerges amid an unresolved leadership battle within the ADC, with the David Mark-led national leadership still entangled in a court dispute — an issue the party says must be resolved before it can fully embrace new political partners. Atiku recently exited the PDP, accusing the party of straying from its founding ideals.
After receiving his ADC card on Monday, Atiku proclaimed that “real opposition” had begun and pledged to help dislodge the APC. His registration was supervised by Adamawa ADC chairman Shehu Yohanna and the party’s mobilisation committee, with several prominent politicians including former Governor Bindow Jibrilla and Senator Aishatu Binani in attendance.
Atiku’s move coincides with a broader opposition coalition involving Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir el-Rufai, Babachir Lawal, and others who have recently agreed to use the ADC as a united platform ahead of the 2027 elections. However, the faction’s rejection of his membership threatens to ignite fresh tensions within the emerging opposition alliance.