Adamawa ADC chair urges Atiku, Babachir, others to register as party begins fresh registration
The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, Shehu Yohanna, has declared that the party is poised to take its place as a leading political force in Nigeria, urging coalition partners and stakeholders to participate in the fresh registration of party membership.
The chairman specifically called on high-profile politicians who have recently aligned with the ADC including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal and Sen. Ishaku Abbo to go to their respective wards and obtain membership cards. According to him, this is the only way they can legitimately exercise influence within the party.
Related news
Jada delves into Adamawa ADC leadership imbroglio, identifies challenges with Arabi, Yohanna claims
Alleged criminal conspiracy: Kaduna police summon el-Rufai, seven ADC leaders
Adamawa ADC crisis: Com Yakub accuses Yohanna group of plans to destroy party
He made this known during a media parley in Yola on Saturday at the unveiling of the party’s membership registration drive.
Yohanna, who spoke passionately about the party’s prospects, insisted that ADC has come to stay both in Adamawa and across the country.
He recalled that the party, originally registered in 2002 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has consistently participated in elections, including the 2023 general polls and subsequent by-elections.
“ADC has come to stay because it has been in existence since 2002. Today, by the special grace of God, coalition members have chosen ADC, but they must come and register formally. You cannot dictate to a party where you are not a registered member,” he said.
“Even our coalition leaders like Atiku and Babachir must go back to their wards to register. Until then, they cannot be regarded as bona fide members with a voice in the party,” Yohanna stressed.
The registration exercise, he explained, requires members to provide their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). This condition, he argued, is crucial because the ADC’s internal democratic processes whether through congresses or delegate systems depend on authentic voter identification.
“You cannot be registered as a member of ADC without your PVC. We take the voter’s card details and record them in our register. That is the only way you can participate in our congresses and primaries,” he said.
He also urged citizens to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration window by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On the issue of leadership crisis within the state chapter, Yohanna dismissed claims of factionalism, describing them as artificial and baseless. He maintained that he remains the substantive chairman of ADC in Adamawa, insisting that no legitimate committee had been constituted to replace him.
“There is no leadership crisis in Adamawa ADC. What people are saying is mere witchcraft. Go and check online. Google it you will see that I am the current state chairman. I conducted the last local government elections and even took the PDP to court in 19 local governments. Nobody challenged my leadership until now that big names are joining the party,” he asserted.
The ADC chairman expressed optimism that the party, with its coalition structure, has the capacity to offer Nigerians a credible alternative. He described the ADC as the “wagon” that will rescue the country from its current challenges of insecurity, hunger, poverty, and economic decline.
“This is the only party that can salvage this country. By God’s grace, ADC will form government from the local level up to the federal government,” Yohanna declared.
He emphasized unity and discipline within the party, urging both old and new members to avoid rancor and focus on building structures ahead of future elections. He further reminded party faithful that the tenure of the current executive committee runs until December 2026, based on resolutions reached at the emergency convention held in Kaduna.
