Lukman suspends ADC membership, alleges hostile treatment by El-Rufai

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

A fresh rift has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition after a prominent member, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, announced the suspension of his membership of the party and the coalition.

Lukman, in a message addressed to the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, and copied to leaders of the opposition coalition, said his decision followed what he described as months of hostile treatment by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and some political associates over the party’s affairs in Kaduna State.

“This may come to you as a disappointment. I am very sorry. I just can’t continue to bear the painful hostile treatment I keep getting from some leaders from Kaduna, especially Mallam Nasir,” Lukman wrote.

He alleged that decisions concerning the party’s leadership structure in Kaduna had sidelined him, adding that he felt marginalised despite his efforts to strengthen the coalition in the state.

A former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lukman said he had spent more than a year working to unite opposition leaders in Kaduna before deciding to suspend his participation in the coalition.

“For Mallam Nasir and his people, I am the problem. I have decided to resolve the problem for them and everyone,” he stated.

He announced the suspension of both his ADC and coalition memberships, saying it was preferable “to be inactive than to continue to chase dashed expectations.”

Lukman also questioned the coalition’s commitment to internal democracy, alleging that some of its leaders were adopting practices similar to those they had previously criticised.

“For many coalition leaders, the objective of rescuing our democracy is just about allowing them to have their way, even when their actions reproduce the old habits that destroyed our former parties,” he said.

He further alleged that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was engaging with individuals in Kaduna whose commitment to building the ADC was, in his view, uncertain, while overlooking others who had worked to strengthen the party’s structures.

According to Lukman, these developments had weakened his confidence in the coalition and reduced his role in preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Despite suspending his membership, Lukman expressed appreciation to ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and other national leaders of the coalition, stressing that his decision was not directed at the party’s national leadership but was informed by his experiences within the Kaduna chapter.

As of the time of filing this report, neither El-Rufai nor the ADC national leadership had publicly responded to Lukman’s claims.