ADC Faction attacks Atiku For Dragging Tinubu To Foreign Court

The Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Working Committee (NWC) of a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have condemned what they described as the unauthorised use of the party’s name, logo and symbols by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, with Senator David Mark as the national chairman. Atiku is the INEC-recognised ADC presidential candidate for the January election.

However, the ADC faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, also tackled Atiku for dragging the office of the President of Nigeria to foreign courts, describing it as an act of desperation, cowardice, and treachery.

The BOT/NWC described the institution of legal proceedings against a sitting Nigerian President in a foreign jurisdiction by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as unpatriotic, shameful, and a direct affront to Nigeria’s national security and interests.

They also asked Atiku to desist from parading himself as or speaking for the party’s presidential candidate.

The ADC faction said it was alarmed by what it described as actions designed to ridicule Nigeria, undermine its international standing and portray the country as lawless.

The party’s leadership, which convened an emergency joint session on Monday, 31 August 2026, said it would not tolerate the exploitation of the ADC’s identity to project falsehoods or embarrass Nigeria before the international community.

He said, “The party is alarmed that these reckless actions are deliberately designed to ridicule Nigeria, erode her standing among the committee of nations, and present our country as lawless. Such conduct is a betrayal of national pride and sovereignty.”

“While we recognise every citizen’s right to legal recourse, the ADC insists that grievances against the democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, must be ventilated within the ambit of Nigerian laws and institutions.

“Dragging the office of the President to foreign courts is an act of desperation, cowardice, and treachery. The BOT/NWC describes Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s institution of legal proceedings against a sitting Nigerian President in a foreign jurisdiction as unpatriotic, shameful, and a direct affront to Nigeria’s national security and interests.

“It is an attempt to internationalise local politics for selfish gain. We hereby serve Alhaji Atiku Abubakar notice to desist forthwith from parading himself as, or speaking for, the ADC presidential candidate.

“Any further attempt to drag the party’s name into his personal political vendetta or into actions that bring Nigeria into international ridicule will be met with legal and political consequences. The leadership of the ADC is fully aware of the sustained pressure, manipulation, and backchannel negotiations by certain elements within the so-called G100 Coalition and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to railroad the ADC into a forced merger or alliance.

“The African Democratic Congress is NOT, and will NOT be, in any alliance, merger, or coalition with any political party ahead of the 2027 elections.”

The ADC said it would contest the elections independently, relying on its ideology, structures and the mandate of Nigerians.

He urged the members, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the general public to take note of its resolutions and be guided accordingly.

He added, “As patriotic Nigerians, we will not sit idly and watch opportunists hijack our platform to peddle lies, incite chaos, and destabilise our democracy to satisfy personal ambition. The ADC will not be a ladder for political anarchists.

“The BOT/NWC hereby charges all members of the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, all security agencies, and the general public to take note of these resolutions and be guided strictly.

“The African Democratic Congress remains committed to building a united, disciplined, and people-centred party that will provide credible leadership for Nigeria in 2027.”