The Nafiu Bala-led African Democratic Congress has disowned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, rejecting his alleged use of the party’s name, logo and symbols and warning him against speaking on its behalf.
The party’s Board of Trustees and National Working Committee took the position at an emergency joint session in Abuja on Monday, August 31, 2026, saying the ADC would contest the 2027 elections independently and would not enter any merger or alliance.
In a statement by its National Chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party said it was opposed to what it described as the unauthorised use of its identity.
The leadership also warned Atiku against presenting himself as the party’s presidential candidate or speaking for the ADC.
Bala said the party would not allow its platform to be used for activities capable of damaging Nigeria’s image.
He said, “The ADC unequivocally condemns and orders an immediate stop to the criminal impersonation, forgery, and unauthorised exploitation of the party’s name, logo, and symbols.”
The party also criticised the reported decision to institute legal proceedings against President Bola Tinubu in a foreign jurisdiction.
The ADC said political grievances should be addressed through Nigerian laws and institutions.
“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,” Bala said.
The party described the reported foreign legal action as an attempt to internationalise domestic politics.
It also warned Atiku against associating the ADC with what it described as his personal political interests.
“We hereby serve Alhaji Atiku Abubakar notice to desist forthwith from parading himself as, or speaking for, the ADC presidential candidate,” the statement added.
The Nafiu Bala-led leadership further rejected claims of an impending merger, alliance or coalition involving the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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,” it stated.
The party said it would instead rely on its ideology, structures and the support of Nigerians to contest the elections independently.
It urged members, the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to take note of its position.
The ADC leadership said it remained committed to building what it described as a disciplined and people-centred political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
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