Yola, Adamawa State – November 24, 2025 – In a move that has sent ripples across Nigeria's fractious political arena, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking the culmination of months of speculation and strategic maneuvering. The announcement, made via a succinct post on his official X account, underscores Atiku's determination to forge a unified opposition front against President Bola Tinubu's All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, a seasoned politician and five-time presidential aspirant, shared photographs capturing the moment he received his ADC membership card during a registration ceremony in Yola, the capital of his home state of Adamawa. The images depict the 78-year-old Waziri of Adamawa raising his completed membership form amid a throng of jubilant supporters, who captured the scene on their smartphones. Accompanying the photos was a custom “Waziri 01” jersey, symbolizing his prominent role in the party’s nascent hierarchy. “It’s official. – AA,” Atiku captioned the post, a terse declaration that belied the profound implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
The event unfolded on Monday morning at Atiku’s polling unit in Jada Local Government Area, drawing an eclectic crowd of party loyalists, youth activists, traditional rulers, and community elders. Security was tight, with police and private guards cordoning off the area to manage the swelling numbers. Supporters chanted “Atiku! Atiku!” and waved green-and-white ADC banners, while local drummers and singers performed traditional Adamawa tunes. Atiku, dressed in a flowing white kaftan embroidered with gold threads, acknowledged the crowd with waves from his vehicle before stepping out to collect his card from ADC state officials. The ceremony, which lasted under 30 minutes, was both symbolic and procedural, fulfilling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requirements for party affiliation.
This defection is no mere formality; it represents a calculated pivot in Atiku’s long and storied political career. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, who garnered nearly 29% of the vote in the 2023 presidential race, parted ways with the PDP in July 2025 amid a protracted leadership crisis that had rendered the party ineffective as an opposition force. In a resignation letter dated July 16, Atiku lambasted the PDP for diverging from its founding principles, accusing it of succumbing to “irreconcilable differences” and internal sabotage that undermined its ability to challenge the APC. His exit was not isolated; it followed the adoption of the ADC as the official platform for a broad opposition coalition on July 2, 2025, a coalition he helped architect to consolidate anti-APC voices fragmented across parties.
The ADC, originally registered with INEC in 2006 as the Alliance for Democratic Change before rebranding, has historically languished on the fringes of Nigerian politics, securing less than 1% of votes in recent cycles. However, Atiku’s involvement has injected vitality into its structures. The party now boasts endorsements from high-profile defectors, including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-PDP Chairman Uche Secondus. Analysts have described this alliance as a “lesson learned” from 2023, where Atiku and Obi split the opposition vote, allowing Tinubu’s victory. Speculation abounds that Atiku, with his northern base and business acumen, could headline the ticket, potentially with Obi as running mate to bridge ethnic and generational divides.
Atiku’s integration into the ADC aligns with his recent activities, which have increasingly tilted toward coalition-building. In September 2025, he attended a pivotal stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, framing the ADC as a “movement of the Nigerian people against the oligarchs who promote poverty and insecurity.” He followed this with a solidarity visit to El-Rufai in Kaduna after an APC-orchestrated attack on the former governor during an ADC inauguration, decrying the Tinubu administration’s “creeping descent into total civilian dictatorship.” In October, Atiku mediated a unity resolution among Adamawa ADC factions, emphasizing grassroots mobilization. November saw him receiving delegations from Taraba State and accolades like the “Grand Pillar of Democracy and National Unity Award” from the ADC Youth Parliament, signaling his de facto leadership role even before formal registration.
The timing of Atiku’s move is strategic, coinciding with his birthday celebrations in Adamawa, which doubled as community outreach initiatives focused on education and youth empowerment—hallmarks of his philanthropy through the Atiku Foundation. Insiders had hinted at this during weekend meetings with ADC executives, where Atiku described the party as “the new political movement in Nigeria.” With just 17 months until the 2027 polls, the defection accelerates the ADC’s reconfiguration, including youth appointments to its National Working Committee.
Reactions have been polarized. APC spokespersons dismissed the move as a “desperate alliance of losers,” while PDP remnants decried it as a betrayal that further erodes their viability. On X, supporters hailed it as a “new dawn,” with hashtags like #TheAtikuMovement trending nationwide. Civil society groups welcomed the consolidation, warning that a fragmented opposition risks entrenching APC dominance amid economic woes like 34% inflation and naira depreciation.
Critics, however, question the coalition’s sustainability. Historical precedents, such as the 2019 merger that birthed the APC, succeeded due to ideological alignment; the ADC’s eclectic mix—from Obi’s social democrats to El-Rufai’s reformers—could fracture under primary pressures. Moreover, INEC’s stringent rules on mergers demand rigorous compliance, and Atiku’s age has sparked whispers of succession planning.
Yet, for Atiku, this is redemption. A customs officer turned billionaire via Andar Holdings, he has navigated Nigeria’s elite circles since the 1990s, serving as Obasanjo’s deputy from 1999 to 2007. His 2023 loss, marred by tribunal disputes over electoral irregularities, fueled his resolve. “Nigeria must be rescued from the ICU,” he declared in August, vowing the ADC would “shock the world” in 2027.
As dusk fell over Yola, Atiku addressed a smaller gathering of elders, invoking his Fulani heritage and vision for equitable growth. “This is not about me; it’s about giving Nigerians a choice,” he said. With the ADC now fortified, the battle lines for 2027 are drawn sharper. Whether this union births a viable alternative or another electoral mirage remains the trillion-naira question. For now, Atiku’s “official” stamp has indelibly altered the script.
