BREAKING: Former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu Dumps Party for ADC

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has formally defected from the ruling party to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

 

The high-profile defection, which took place on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, marks a dramatic return to active partisan politics for the veteran politician after months of political silence following his controversial exit from the APC leadership.

 

Adamu, a former governor and senator, was received by leaders and supporters of the ADC at a gathering that doubled as both a homecoming and a political statement. Addressing party faithful and residents of the area, the 79-year-old politician said his decision to leave the APC was not taken lightly but was guided by “principle, conscience, and a deep concern for the future of democratic politics in Nigeria.”

 

According to him, the ruling party he once helped to build and lead has drifted away from its founding ideals. He accused the APC of sidelining experienced members, suppressing dissenting voices, and eroding internal democracy—issues he said had made it impossible for him to continue to identify with the party.

 

“I did not join politics for personal comfort or relevance,” Adamu told the crowd. “I joined because I believe in ideas, in dialogue, and in democratic values. Unfortunately, the APC has departed from these principles. Internal democracy has been weakened, loyal and experienced members are pushed aside, and differing opinions are treated as rebellion.”

 

From APC Leader to ADC Convert

 

Adamu was appointed National Chairman of the APC in March 2022 at a time when the party was preparing for a highly competitive presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general election. His tenure, however, was short-lived. In July 2023, less than two months after President Bola Tinubu was sworn in, Adamu resigned from office under circumstances widely described as controversial.

 

At the time, the APC leadership described his exit as a “resignation,” but political observers and party insiders insisted it was anything but voluntary. Since then, Adamu had largely stayed away from the public eye, fueling speculation about his political future and his relationship with the ruling party.

 

His defection to the ADC has now confirmed long-held suspicions that his ties with the APC had irreparably broken down.

 

Accusations Against the APC

 

While addressing ADC supporters in Keffi, Adamu did not mince words in his assessment of the APC’s internal workings. He lamented what he described as the growing culture of intolerance within the party and warned that the absence of internal democracy could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s political stability.

 

“The APC was founded as a progressive platform, a party that promised fairness, inclusion, and respect for diverse views,” he said. “Today, what we see is the opposite. Decisions are imposed, structures are weakened, and loyalty is measured by silence, not by contribution.”

 

His comments resonated with some party members and political analysts who have, in recent years, raised concerns about internal crises within the APC across several states.

 

A Long and Winding Political Career

 

Adamu’s political journey spans more than two decades and cuts across Nigeria’s major political parties. He served as governor of Nasarawa State from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. His eight-year tenure as governor established him as one of the most influential political figures in the state.

 

In 2007, he was elected to the Senate to represent the Nasarawa West Senatorial District. He remained in the upper legislative chamber for several years, building a reputation as a seasoned lawmaker.

 

In 2014, Adamu was among ten serving PDP senators who defected to the APC, a move that significantly boosted the then-opposition party ahead of the 2015 general election. That wave of defections played a crucial role in strengthening the APC’s national spread and eventual victory at the federal level.

 

The Ahmad Lawan Episode

 

One of the most controversial moments of Adamu’s tenure as APC national chairman came during the build-up to the party’s presidential primaries in 2022. At a crucial meeting of party stakeholders, Adamu publicly declared former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

 

The announcement sparked outrage among APC governors, aspirants, and supporters, many of whom insisted that no such consensus had been reached. The move was widely interpreted as an attempt to sideline other aspirants, including eventual winner Bola Tinubu.

 

Despite the controversy, the APC went ahead with its primaries, where Tinubu defeated Lawan and 12 other aspirants to clinch the party’s presidential ticket. Tinubu went on to win the general election, paving the way for his inauguration as president in May 2023.

 

Fallout and Forced Exit?

 

Following Tinubu’s victory, relations between Adamu and the new power structure within the APC reportedly deteriorated rapidly. Analysts and party insiders attributed his eventual exit as national chairman to his perceived hostility toward Tinubu before and during the election.

 

Many within political circles believed that the president and his allies engineered Adamu’s removal to consolidate control over the party’s national leadership. Although neither Tinubu nor the APC officially confirmed these claims, the timing and manner of Adamu’s resignation fueled widespread speculation.

 

ADC Welcomes a Political Heavyweight

 

Adamu’s defection is being celebrated by the African Democratic Congress as a major boost to its profile ahead of future elections. Party leaders described his entry as a sign that experienced politicians disillusioned with the major parties are beginning to look toward alternative platforms.

 

Receiving him in Keffi, ADC officials said Adamu’s experience as a former governor, senator, and party chairman would strengthen the party’s structures, particularly in Nasarawa State and the North-Central region.

 

“This is not just a defection; it is a statement,” an ADC leader said. “It shows that the ADC is becoming a credible home for politicians who believe in fairness, internal democracy, and national unity.”

 

Implications for Nigerian Politics

 

Adamu’s move adds to the growing list of high-profile defections that have characterized Nigeria’s political scene since the 2023 elections. While it remains to be seen how much electoral weight his defection will carry, analysts agree that it underscores ongoing tensions within the APC and the search by some political heavyweights for alternative platforms.

 

For Abdullahi Adamu, the defection appears to be both a personal and political statement—one that reflects his dissatisfaction with the direction of the ruling party and his desire to remain relevant in Nigeria’s ever-shifting political terrain.

 

As the country inches toward another election cycle, his decision may yet prove to be a significant development in the broader contest for political influence and democratic credibility.