The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a fresh ultimatum to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and other prominent figures to regularise their membership status or risk losing recognition within the party.
Speaking in Yola, Adamawa State, the ADC Chairman, Shehu Yohanna, said the party had launched a comprehensive membership registration exercise and insisted that only those who obtain valid membership cards at their respective wards would be acknowledged as bona fide members.
“Atiku Abubakar should go to his ward in Jada Local Government and register, Babachir should go to his ward in Hong Local Government and register. That is the only way they can be treated as legitimate members of the party,” Yohanna told The Punch Newspaper.
He warned that no individual could legitimately participate in decision-making or hold leadership positions at the national level without being a constitutionally recognised member.
“You cannot be taking decisions for a party you are not constitutionally a member of. All of you should register for the greatness of our party. It is illegal for someone to hold a leadership position in the party without being a registered member. That makes a caricature of the party,” he added.
The ultimatum follows a resolution by the party’s National Caucus, reaffirmed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, that all coalition members must resign from their current political affiliations and register fully with the ADC.
Atiku was widely expected to formalise his membership by picking up his ADC card in August in his hometown of Jada. However, the exercise was abruptly suspended last month without any official explanation.