ADC Fires Fresh Ultimatum at Atiku, Babachir, and Other Bigwigs — ‘Register at Your Wards or Lose Recognition’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has turned up the political heat, issuing a stern ultimatum to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and other political heavyweights: regularise your membership or risk being stripped of recognition within the party.

Speaking in Yola, Adamawa State, ADC Chairman Shehu Yohanna announced the commencement of a nationwide membership registration exercise, stressing that only those who obtain valid membership cards at their wards will be acknowledged as bona fide members of the party.

“Atiku Abubakar must go to his ward in Jada Local Government and register. Babachir must do the same in his Hong Local Government. That is the only way they can be treated as legitimate members of the ADC,” Yohanna declared in an interview with The Punch.

He warned that no individual, no matter how highly placed, could participate in decision-making or assume leadership positions without being a constitutionally recognised member.

> “You cannot be taking decisions for a party you are not constitutionally a member of. All of you must register for the greatness of our party. It is illegal and a mockery of the ADC for anyone to hold a leadership position without proper registration,” he stated.

The ultimatum is a direct fallout of a resolution by the party’s National Caucus, reaffirmed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, which makes it mandatory for all coalition members to resign from their former political platforms and fully embrace ADC membership.

Atiku, who was widely expected to formalise his ADC membership in August by picking up his card in his Jada hometown, has so far not done so, after the exercise was mysteriously suspended last month without any official explanation.

The ADC’s move is now being closely watched across Nigeria’s political space, as analysts believe it could either strengthen the party’s internal discipline or spark fresh political drama among its top stakeholders.