Hon Ifeanyi Uzokwe, a federal lawmaker, has publicly accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of hijacking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and undermining internal democracy.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today on Tuesday evening, Uzokwe revealed that he and several other lawmakers — both former and serving — abandoned the ADC after an alarming declaration by Atiku that the coalition and the party were effectively under his personal control.
According to Uzokwe, the breaking point came when Atiku allegedly told stakeholders that the coalition was formed in his residence and that no one could challenge his authority within the party.
“Let him tell Nigerians. They are telling us the mass movement. We left ADC because His Excellency Atiku Abubakar said that coalition was formed in his house, that ADC is his party, that nobody will tell him anything,” Uzokwe said.
The lawmaker further disclosed that attempts were made to persuade Atiku to step aside in the interest of fairness and regional balance, particularly in favour of southern aspirants ahead of future elections.
He said the group urged Atiku to publicly relinquish his presidential ambition and allow a level playing field for other prominent figures such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi.
“We went to him and said, can you step down and leave Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and others to go into primaries? Let Atiku say he is stepping down today, that Rotimi Amaechi, that he has conceded to the south, that Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi should go to the field and do primaries. Or any other person from the south,” he stated.
“What are you telling me? Somebody that stood for election in 2023 and you are telling me about primaries. My brother, stop telling lies to Nigerians. Tell us how you people came into coalition,” he added.
The lawmaker disclosed that extensive consultations were held among aggrieved members, including visits to key political actors, but efforts to secure a consensus that favoured power rotation to the South proved unsuccessful.
“Former legislators and current legislators, we sat down. We went to all their houses. And we are not getting that the South way,” Uzokwe said.
He also referenced the stance of the Kwankwasiyya political movement, associated with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, noting that it had shown willingness to concede power to the South — an approach he contrasted with what he described as Atiku’s rigid posture.
“Kwankwasiyya movement, they conceded to the South. What you hear them saying tomorrow is that Kwankwaso is just a politician in Kano that he has no other places to conquer. But I keep on asking,” he said.
