The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified, as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, dismissed reports of his suspension alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal, who serves as the ADC Vice Chairman (North East), described the purported suspension announced by a factional figure, Raji Zumo, as baseless and not worthy of attention. He went further to ridicule the claims, alleging they were made under the influence of drugs.
According to reports, Zumo had declared the suspension of Atiku, Lawal, and the party’s transition committee chairman, Sadiq Ibrahim, during a press briefing on Monday.
Reacting to the development, Lawal questioned Zumo’s authority within the party, insisting he held no legitimate position to make such pronouncements. He maintained that the claims should be ignored entirely.
Similarly, the Adamawa State Chairman of the ADC, Shehu Yohanna, rejected the suspension, describing it as unfounded. Yohanna stated that Zumo had long distanced himself from the party and only resurfaced recently on social media.
Meanwhile, the leadership tussle has taken a legal turn. An Adamawa State High Court presided over by Ahmed Isaordered the suspension of the party’s planned congresses pending the resolution of an ongoing suit.
The case, filed by Yohanna, challenges his alleged exclusion from the congress planning process and names Sadiq Dasinas a respondent. The court adjourned proceedings to April 15, 2026.
Lawal, however, claimed he was unaware of the court’s decision, stating he was in Abuja at the time and had no knowledge of the development.
The ADC in Adamawa has remained fractured since last year, with multiple factions emerging from a prolonged leadership dispute, further complicating the party’s internal cohesion.