ADC Lifts Suspension of Atiku and Lawal

The African Democratic Congress has deemed 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 as utterly invalid, stressing that the group behind the move lacks the requisite authority to take such action.

The announcement, according to the party, carries no weight within its ranks, rendering it essentially meaningless, and this stance is echoed by the party's chieftain, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who condemned the move as a desperate act by individuals driven by hunger and a desire to undermine democracy.

In response to inquiries about potential disciplinary measures against those involved, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the suspension as baseless, stating that the individuals behind the announcement are merely jesters without the power to take such actions.

This development follows a press conference in Adamawa, where factional state chairman, Raji Zumo, announced the suspension of Atiku, Lawal, and the party's transition committee chairman, Sadiq Ibrahim, citing reasons such as fostering disunity and undermining lawful authority.

The suspension announcement is the latest manifestation of the internal disputes plaguing the ADC, which is grappling with competing claims to the national leadership by separate factions led by Nafiu Bala Gombe and Kingsley Ogga, both of whom were expelled during the party's national convention.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had previously withdrawn recognition of the party's leadership structures amid the ongoing dispute, yet the leadership aligned with former Senate President David Mark maintains that the party remains intact following the convention.

Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has also weighed in on the suspension, characterizing it as a callous and anti-democratic act orchestrated by a non-existent faction of the ADC in Adamawa State, and emphasizing that no individual or group can render Atiku Abubakar irrelevant in Adamawa State's politics and culture.

Eze further stated that the purported suspension is a product of hunger, deprivation, and foolishness, and that it is ironic that such individuals would attempt to suspend respected leaders of a political party, underscoring the desperation of those involved.

Eze questioned the credibility of Raji Zumo, implying that such individuals would only attempt to suspend respected leaders under the auspices of a particular political party, and accused them of trying to destabilize opposition politicians using state institutions, a tactic he deemed a sign of fear of competitive elections.

Eze concluded by stating that the attempts to undermine key opposition figures through undemocratic acts are degrading to those who claim to be democrats, and that no amount of witch-hunting or undemocratic acts will secure re-election for President Tinubu in 2027, citing the President's alleged abysmal performance as a curse to Nigeria.