Lukman Steps Back from ADC and Coalition
Salihu Mohammed Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has suspended his membership in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and withdrawn from the broader opposition coalition. He attributed his decision to sustained hostile treatment from former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and his associates.
According to a report by DailyTrust, Lukman announced his move in a message addressed to ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark, with copies sent to other coalition leaders. He stated that decisions regarding the coalition's leadership structure in Kaduna State were manipulated to push him to the margins.
Orchestrated Campaign Alleged
Lukman disclosed that he had invested over a year attempting to reconcile and unify opposition figures in Kaduna, only to find himself the target of what he termed an orchestrated campaign. He expressed regret over his decision, saying, "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." He added that he had been reduced to a nobody within a coalition he had actively worked to build, and that El-Rufai's camp viewed him as the source of the problem. "For Mallam Nasir and his people, I am the problem. I have decided to resolve the problem for them and everyone," Lukman said.
Concerns Over Amaechi's Role
Beyond his grievances with El-Rufai, Lukman also cited concerns about the party's vice presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi. He alleged that Amaechi was engaging individuals in Kaduna State whose commitment to building the ADC was questionable, while those who had put in genuine effort to grow the party's structures were being overlooked. Lukman said these developments had steadily weakened his confidence in the coalition's direction, reducing the ADC to what he described as "a marginal participant" in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Decision Directed at El-Rufai, Not Party Hierarchy
Lukman insisted that his decision was directed specifically at the treatment he received from El-Rufai and certain Kaduna-based coalition leaders, rather than at the party's broader hierarchy. His exit marks a significant setback for the opposition coalition as it gears up for the 2027 elections.
