The Nafiu Bala Gombe-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a fresh attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his decision to institute legal proceedings against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a foreign court.
The faction described the move as “desperation, cowardice and treachery”, insisting that grievances against a sitting Nigerian President should be addressed through the country’s courts and institutions.
In a statement issued yesterday by Bala Gombe, the faction said it recognised the constitutional right of every citizen to seek legal redress, but maintained that taking domestic political disputes before foreign courts was unacceptable.
“Dragging the office of the President to foreign courts is an act of desperation, cowardice, and treachery,” the statement said.
The group accused Atiku of attempting to internationalise Nigerian politics for personal political gain, describing the action as “unpatriotic, shameful” and a threat to Nigeria’s national interest.
It also warned the former Vice President against using the ADC’s name, logo or symbols without authorisation.
“We hereby serve Alhaji Atiku Abubakar notice to desist forthwith from parading himself as, or speaking for, the ADC presidential candidate,” it said.
The faction threatened legal and political action against any further attempt to associate the party with what it described as Atiku’s “personal political vendetta”.
‘ADC won’t join Atiku coalition’
The Bala Gombe-led faction also rejected reports of an impending alliance, merger or coalition involving the ADC and opposition political groups ahead of the 2027 general election.
It alleged that some members of the G100 Coalition and Atiku were mounting pressure and engaging in “backchannel negotiations” to force the ADC into a 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 statement declared.
The faction said the party would contest the 2027 election independently, relying on its ideology, structures and the support of Nigerians.
It urged members of the public, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to take note of its position.
Party accuses Atiku of impersonation
The group further condemned what it described as the unauthorised use of the ADC’s name, logo and other party symbols by Atiku.
Following an emergency joint session of its Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday, August 31, 2026, the faction said it would not tolerate alleged impersonation, forgery or exploitation of the party’s identity.
“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,” Gombe said.
He alleged that the activities were aimed at embarrassing Nigeria internationally and portraying the country as lawless.
“The use of our identity to project falsehoods and to embarrass Nigeria before the international community will not be tolerated,” he said.
The faction maintained that the alleged actions amounted to a betrayal of national sovereignty and warned that those involved would face appropriate legal and political consequences.
The latest development further deepens the divisions within the ADC and adds another layer to the growing realignment among opposition forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
