President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of attempting to privatise the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking on Thursday while hosting a delegation of Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the State House, Tinubu linked the party’s ongoing leadership crisis to what he described as Abubakar’s effort to “privatise” the ADC. He also questioned Abubakar’s record during his tenure as chairman of Nigeria’s privatisation council, arguing that several past initiatives did not yield lasting results.

The president cited the privatisation of key national assets, including the Delta steel industry and the Ajaokuta steel complex, stating that they have yet to function optimally. He further suggested that attempts to exert control over a political party had been resisted by its original stakeholders.

The ADC has faced persistent internal disputes since July 2025, when an opposition coalition assumed control of its leadership. The situation has led to the emergence of multiple factions within the party, including those led by David Mark, Nafiu Bala, and Ogga Kingsley.

On April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of the Mark-led faction and Bala’s group following an interim ruling by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled April 22 to hear an appeal filed by Mark challenging Bala’s suit over the party’s leadership.

Further intensifying the crisis, a faction of the ADC in Adamawa State announced the suspension of Abubakar on April 13, accusing him of contributing to internal divisions within the party.