Tinubu mocks Atiku for ‘privatising’ ADC

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Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of attempting to “privatise” the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid its ongoing leadership crisis.

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Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while hosting a delegation of Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the State House in Abuja, linking the party’s internal disputes to what he described as Atiku’s political approach.

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“The head [Atiku] was the chairman of the privatisation council of Nigeria. He privatised the steel industry in Delta; is it working today? No. He privatised Ajaokuta. Is it working today? No, I can go on to list,” the president said.

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“They privatise another man’s political party, but the man (owner) said no,” he added.

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The president’s comments come against the backdrop of a protracted leadership tussle within the ADC, which has intensified since an opposition coalition assumed control of the party’s structure in July 2025.

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The party is currently divided into multiple factions, including those led by former Senate President David Mark, Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman, and Ogga Kingsley.

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Bala has alleged that the Mark-led leadership was illegally constituted, further deepening the internal crisis.

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On April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of both the Mark-led faction and Bala’s group following an interim ruling by the Court of Appeal.

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled April 22 to hear an appeal filed by Mark challenging the dispute over the party’s leadership.

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In a related development, a faction of the ADC in Adamawa State recently announced the suspension of Atiku, accusing him of contributing to divisions within the party.

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The crisis within the ADC has continued to raise questions about the cohesion of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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