Former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has suspended his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and withdrawn from the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Lukman disclosed his decision in a communication addressed to the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and copied to key leaders of the coalition.
The former APC stalwart said his decision was prompted by what he described as persistent hostility from former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and some of his allies over issues relating to the leadership and organisation of the coalition in Kaduna State.
According to Lukman, efforts he made over the past year to unite opposition figures and strengthen the coalition in Kaduna were met with resistance, leaving him increasingly marginalised within the political movement.
He alleged that decisions concerning the coalition’s affairs in the state were manipulated in a manner that excluded him despite his contributions to its formation and growth.
Lukman said the situation had become unbearable, adding that he no longer saw any reason to remain actively involved in the coalition under the prevailing circumstances.
He maintained that suspending his membership was preferable to continuing with what he described as unfulfilled expectations and internal disagreements.
The former APC vice chairman also raised concerns about the coalition’s internal democratic culture, accusing some leaders of engaging in the same political practices they had previously condemned in other parties.
He further claimed that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had been working with individuals in Kaduna whose commitment to building the ADC was uncertain, while those who had invested time and effort in strengthening the party were being overlooked.
Lukman argued that the developments had weakened his confidence in the coalition and undermined the ADC’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Despite his decision, he expressed gratitude to Senator David Mark and other members of the party’s national leadership, stressing that his action should not be interpreted as a protest against them.
Rather, he said his withdrawal was specifically linked to his grievances with El-Rufai and certain coalition figures in Kaduna State, whom he accused of creating an atmosphere that made his continued participation difficult.
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