Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has ignited a fresh political firestorm after formally defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring an all-out battle against the ruling All Progressives Congress. The declaration came on Monday in Adamawa State, where he received his ADC membership card and told cheering supporters, “From today henceforth, I have begun my fight against APC—an evil party that has caused nothing but suffering until the day we oust them from governance.”

Addressing the energetic crowd, Atiku accused the APC of plunging Nigeria into unprecedented hardship, insisting that no party in recent history has inflicted as much economic and security turmoil. He reiterated that the APC had brought “suffering, abject poverty, and insecurity” to millions, while promising that with public support, he would champion a brand of leadership capable of steering Nigeria toward positive change. Further context on Nigeria’s economic challenges can be found via the National Bureau of Statistics.

Atiku’s latest move marks yet another significant pivot in his long, storied political journey. His decision to register with the ADC follows months of intense speculation fueled by delayed formal entries from key opposition figures. Political observers recall that Atiku first joined the APC in 2014, contesting the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2015 election before losing to the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He later returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017, where he contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections. A timeline of his political trajectory is available through the Independent National Electoral Commission.