The Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected any move to associate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar with the party’s official identity, while declaring that it will not enter into any alliance, merger or coalition with another political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s Board of Trustees and National Working Committee announced the position after an emergency joint meeting held on Monday, August 31, 2026, where they also accused Atiku of allegedly using the ADC’s name, logo and other symbols without authorisation.
In a statement signed by the National Chairman of the party, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the ADC directed the former vice president to stop presenting himself as, or speaking on behalf of, its presidential candidate.
The party said it viewed the alleged use of its identity as an attempt to project falsehoods and expose Nigeria to international ridicule, warning that such actions would attract both legal and political consequences.
Gombe said: “The ADC unequivocally condemns and orders an immediate stop to the criminal impersonation, forgery, and unauthorized exploitation of the party’s name, logo, and symbols. The use of our identity to project falsehoods and to embarrass Nigeria before the international community will not be tolerated.
“The party is alarmed that these reckless actions are deliberately designed to ridicule Nigeria, erode her standing among the committee of nations, and present our country as lawless. Such conduct is a betrayal of national pride and sovereignty.
“While we recognize 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.
“Dragging the office of the President to foreign courts is an act of desperation, cowardice, and treachery. The BOT/NWC describes the institution of legal proceedings against a sitting Nigerian President in a foreign jurisdiction by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as unpatriotic, shameful, and a direct affront to Nigeria’s national security and interest.
“It is an attempt to internationalize local politics for selfish gain. We hereby serve Alhaji Atiku Abubakar notice to desist forthwith from parading himself as, or speaking for, the ADC presidential candidate.
“Any further attempt to drag the party’s name into his personal political vendetta or into actions that bring Nigeria into international ridicule will be met with legal and political consequences. The leadership of the ADC is fully aware of the sustained pressure, manipulation, and backchannel negotiations by certain elements within the so-called G100 Coalition and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to railroad the ADC into a forced merger or alliance.
“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.”
The party further declared that it would approach the 2027 elections as an independent political platform, relying on its own ideology, organisational structures and the support of Nigerian voters.
It urged its members, the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and the public to take note of the resolutions reached by its leadership.
Gombe added, “As patriotic Nigerians, we will not sit idly and watch opportunists hijack our platform to peddle lies, incite chaos, and destabilize our democracy to satisfy personal ambition. The ADC will not be a ladder for political anarchists.
“The BOT/NWC hereby charges all members of the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, all security agencies, and the general public to take note of these resolutions and be guided strictly.
“The African Democratic Congress remains committed to building a united, disciplined, and people-centered party that will provide credible leadership for Nigeria in 2027.”
The ADC leadership said its position was aimed at protecting the identity and integrity of the party ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that the organisation remained committed to providing what it described as credible and people-centred leadership.
