The African Democratic Congress has dismissed the reported suspension of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal by a faction of the party in Adamawa State, describing the action as completely invalid and of no effect.
The party maintained that those behind the announcement lack the constitutional authority to discipline or suspend any member at that level, insisting that the move carries no recognition within the party structure.
This position was made clear by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who described the purported suspension as baseless and politically meaningless.
According to him, the individuals who made the announcement are not recognised as legitimate representatives of the party and therefore cannot take disciplinary actions on behalf of the African Democratic Congress.
The controversy began after a factional chairman in Adamawa State, Raji Zumo, announced the suspension of Atiku Abubakar, Babachir Lawal and Sadiq Ibrahim, accusing them of promoting division, operating parallel structures and undermining party authority.
The faction also alleged that the affected leaders disregarded lawful directives and a subsisting court order, claims which have been strongly rejected by the main leadership of the party.
Party chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze also condemned the suspension, describing it as an undemocratic act driven by personal interests and political desperation.
He insisted that no factional group has the legitimacy to undermine prominent national figures within the party, adding that such actions are designed to deilise the opposition.
The ADC is currently facing deep internal divisions, with multiple factions laying claim to leadership positions following disputes that emerged after its national convention.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has previously withdrawn recognition of the party’s disputed leadership structures, further complicating the crisis.
Despite the ongoing tensions, the faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark maintains that the party remains united and committed to resolving its internal disagreements through lawful processes.
The latest development adds to the growing uncertainty within the ADC as it continues to struggle with internal reconciliation ahead of future political contests.
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