Adamawa ADC crisis: Babachir Lawal clashes with Atiku’s loyalists

The crisis rocking the Adamawa chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Monday following a clash between the party’s national vice chairman (North East), Engr. Babachir Lawal, and the state party chairman, Shehu Yohanna.

Yohanna, who enjoys the backing of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the leadership tussle that has engulfed the party, is one of three individuals laying claim to the state chairmanship. He also received Atiku into the party during the former vice president’s formal registration last week, an event notably boycotted by Lawal.

Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), had earlier endorsed Sadiq Dasin as state chairman with the support of the National Working Committee (NWC) but later switched his endorsement to Mustapha Arabi.

At Monday’s stakeholders’ meeting, Daily Trust gathered that the former SGF asked security operatives to eject Shehu Yohanna, Atiku’s preferred chairman, from the venue.

Our reporter learnt that tension broke out at the meeting after concerned stakeholders blocked both Yohanna (Atiku’s candidate) and Arabi (Babachir’s choice) from entering, citing the unresolved leadership crisis.

The meeting was convened to distribute membership registration forms and strategise ahead of the party’s membership registration drive.

It was further gathered that although Yohanna and Arabi were initially denied entry, the former SGF later prevailed on the youths to allow both men into the hall, only for him to allegedly order security personnel to remove Yohanna moments later.

The development sparked outrage among Atiku’s loyalists, who walked out of the meeting in protest. They described the incident as a “monumental betrayal” and vowed to convene an emergency meeting to counter Lawal’s actions.

One of Atiku’s supporters, Umar Sadiq Jada, told Daily Trust: “There is no need to remain where you are clearly not wanted.”

But reacting, Babachir Lawal said Yohanna was “excused” from the meeting because he had instituted a legal action against the party.

“Yohanna was not the only person asked to leave,” he said. “Our national chairman has made it clear that he is not ready to sit with anyone who has taken the party to court. This was a general meeting for chairmen to discuss issues affecting the party, and since some of them have gone to court over factional disputes, the chairman said anyone in that category should excuse himself.”

On his absence at Atiku’s registration, Lawal said he was not the only ADC official who missed the event. He explained that although Atiku informed him ahead of time, he could not attend because he was out of the state and had already booked his return ticket for a later date.

Efforts to reach Shehu Yohanna were unsuccessful, as he neither took calls nor responded to messages sent to him.

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