The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, has dismissed reports of his alleged suspension from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the development as baseless and lacking legitimacy.
Lawal, who serves as Vice Chairman of the ADC in the North East, said the purported suspension of himself, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and others by a factional group within the party should be disregarded.
A factional chairman of the ADC in Adamawa State, Raji Zumo, had on Monday announced the suspension of Atiku, Lawal, and the party’s transition committee chairman, Sadiq Ibrahim, during a press briefing.
Reacting, Lawal dismissed the claim, questioning the credibility of those behind the announcement.
“If some people take heavy Indian hemp, they can claim to be President of Nigeria, so don’t consider them as normal people,” he said.
He added that the individual who made the announcement has no recognised position within the party structure to issue such disciplinary actions.
“Raji has no reasonable position in the ADC that empowers him to speak on behalf of the party. What is his position in Adamawa State, if not influence of drugs?” he said.
Also reacting, the Adamawa State Chairman of the ADC, Shehu Yohanna, described the suspension claim as invalid, insisting that the individual behind it had long left the party.
He said the announcement was part of ongoing factional disputes within the state chapter of the party.
Meanwhile, an Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola has ordered the suspension of ADC congresses in the state pending the determination of a suit filed before it.
Justice Ahmed Isa of High Court No. 6 granted the order following an application challenging the conduct of the planned congresses.
The case was adjourned to April 15, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The crisis within the Adamawa chapter of the ADC has persisted over leadership disputes, resulting in multiple factions laying claim to the control of the party structure.
