Lawal Outmaneuvers Atiku, Ejects Yohanna from NWC Meeting as Adamawa ADC Power Struggle Moves to Abuja

By Tgnews

In a well-calculated maneuver for control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. David Lawal Babachir, has tactically edged out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a simmering power play that emerged recently.

Reports indicate that, in a humiliating gesture, the former SGF instructed security officials to eject Shehu Yohanna, Atiku’s preferred state chairman, from the venue.

It may be recalled that the former SGF, who serves as the Northeast National Vice Chairman of the ADC, was conspicuously absent during the high-profile official registration of Atiku into the ADC in his hometown of Jada last week, an event attended by many high-ranking party members.

Lawal’s absence sparked insinuations of a rift between the two leaders, which became more pronounced after he attributed his absence to a shift in the registration date without due consultation.

The ADC in Adamawa State has faced growing internal strife, resulting in its fragmentation into three splinter groups.

Our reporter learned that a serious fracas erupted today at the venue of the ADC National Working Committee (NWC) meeting following the resolve of some concerned ADC stakeholders to block both Shehu Yohanna, Atiku’s preferred ADC chairman, and Mustapha Arabi, Lawal’s preferred ADC chairman, from the meeting due to an unresolved leadership conundrum.

During the meeting, materials for the forthcoming massive membership registration drive were to be distributed to chairmen of the party across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT, this paper learned.

As the standoff persisted, our reporter learned that Lawal planted a decoy by asking the youths to yield ground and allow the two chairmen to enter the venue.

However, after they settled down for the day’s business, Lawal allegedly mobilized additional security personnel and instructed them to eject Shehu Yohanna from the venue.

Our reporter learned that, irked by what they termed a monumental betrayal, Atiku’s loyalists stormed out of the venue and are said to be planning an emergency meeting to counter Lawal’s apparent betrayal.

An Atiku loyalist, Hon. Umar Sadiq Jada, told our reporter that they left the venue because “there is no need to be around where you are not needed.”

Efforts to speak with Yohanna over the incident were unsuccessful, as he failed to answer calls directed to his mobile phone number.