Real opposition has begun, says Atiku as he picks ADC membership card

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, declared that “the real opposition has begun” after formally joining the African Democratic Congress, ending months of speculation about his next political move.

The former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate stated this shortly after receiving his ADC membership card at his Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, marking his first public declaration of intent since leaving the main opposition party.

“Now I have picked up my membership card of the ADC. Now, the real opposition has begun. We will chase the APC out of government,” he said.

The former vice president urged his supporters across the country to immediately register with the ADC and join what he described as a new political front.

Adamawa ADC Chairman, Shehu Yohanna, who co-conducted the registration, said Atiku’s entry formally kicks off statewide registration across all local governments and wards.

He appealed to citizens, especially youths and women, to join the party.

The National Secretary of the ADC Registration and Mobilisation Committee, Senator Sadiq Yar’Adua, echoed Atiku’s call, urging Nigerians to register to vote and “take ownership of the nation’s political future.”

The unveiling drew several prominent Adamawa political figures, including former Governor Bindow Jibrilla, Senator Aishatu Binani, Senator Ahmed Barata, Senator Aziz Nyako and Senator Ishaku Abbo, signalling a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In July, he resigned from the PDP, accusing the party of straying from its founding ideals.

Atiku described his exit from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying he resigned because the party’s internal differences had become irreconcilable.

PUNCH Online had reported that Atiku and other opposition leaders had agreed to adopt the ADC as the platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election.

Among the coalition leaders are a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; and a former chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, among others.