The Nafiu Bala-led faction of the African Democratic Congress has distanced itself from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s registration in Adamawa State, maintaining that he is not formally acknowledged as a member of the party.

The clarification followed shortly after Atiku publicly received his ADC membership card at the Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa.

In a statement released in Abuja, the ADC Director of Media and Public Affairs, Christopher Okechukwu, said the registration carried out in Adamawa did not comply with recognised party processes and therefore lacked legitimacy.

Okechukwu explained that “This registration was conducted by individuals not recognised by the ADC’s National Headquarters and therefore lacked authority to register new members.”

He added that the party had repeatedly advised Atiku to complete his membership process with the constitutionally recognised ward executives in his area, a step he had not yet taken.

The faction further cautioned that Atiku’s actions might be tied to a “broader strategy to leverage the ADC while awaiting reconciliation with the Peoples Democratic Party,” saying similar political patterns had been observed in the past.

Okechukwu urged the former vice president to adhere to established procedures, stressing that the ADC “is not a vehicle for personal ambition but a movement committed to democratic renewal,” while assuring him that full membership privileges would be available once his registration is completed through the appropriate ward structure.

The statement emerged amid an ongoing leadership tussle in the ADC, with the legitimacy of David Mark’s national leadership currently before the Federal High Court—an issue the faction insists must be resolved before coalition partners, including Atiku’s allies, can be integrated.

Atiku’s decision came months after he resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in July, accusing it of straying from its founding principles. On Monday, he declared that “the real opposition has begun” as he proudly picked up his ADC membership card in Adamawa.

“Now I have picked up my membership card of the ADC. Now, the real opposition has begun. We will chase the APC out of government,” he said.

His registration exercise was overseen by the Adamawa ADC chairman, Shehu Yohanna, alongside the ADC Registration and Mobilisation Committee, with notable political figures—including former Governor Bindow Jibrilla and Senator Aishatu Binani—present during the event, signalling a significant development ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku’s move aligns with a broader opposition coalition featuring Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, and other political heavyweights who had previously agreed to adopt the ADC as a collective platform to challenge the ruling APC.

However, the sharp resistance from the ADC factional leadership suggests that Atiku’s membership status may now become another source of internal friction within the emerging opposition alliance.

The United Kingdom government has declined Nigeria’s request to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to a Nigerian correctional facility to complete his sentence.

Ekweremadu is serving a nine-year, eight-month prison term in the UK after his 2023 conviction for conspiring to exploit a young man’s kidney, an offence classified under the United Kingdom’s organ trafficking and modern slavery laws.

Earlier in November, President Bola Tinubu sent a high-level delegation to London to explore the feasibility of a prisoner-transfer arrangement. Members of the delegation included Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

UK authorities have now rejected the proposal. A source at the UK Ministry of Justice, quoted by The Guardian, said London was not convinced that Nigeria could ensure Ekweremadu would continue serving his sentence if transferred. The source added, “A source at the MoJ has confirmed the request was rejected. It is understood the UK government was concerned that Nigeria could offer no guarantees that Ekweremadu would continue his prison sentence after being deported.”

An official further explained that such transfers are approved only when they meet the “interests of justice,” adding, “Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment.”

Reaffirming the UK’s position on the matter, the official stated: “The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law.”

With the refusal, Ekweremadu is expected to remain in a British correctional facility for the duration of his sentence unless new diplomatic negotiations produce a different outcome.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, held a meeting on Monday with security chiefs in the state to review the current security landscape and reinforce preparedness measures.

In a post on X, the governor stated that he met with the “security chiefs in Ogun State today to assess the level of security in the state and the country as it relates to us.” He added that “As we often say, the best time to prepare for war is during a time of peace.”

Abiodun noted that Ogun remains one of the most stable environments in the country, saying, “Ogun State is currently regarded as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, if not the most peaceful, and it is important that we continue to protect and sustain that standing.”

He emphasized that maintaining the state’s peaceful reputation requires consistent vigilance and proactive engagement with security leaders.

Authorities explained that periodic sessions with security chiefs are essential to preventing threats from escalating, particularly at a time when insecurity is worsening in other regions of Nigeria.

The governor reiterated the need for early action, stating, “To maintain this position, we must stay proactive, strengthen our preparedness, and put in place the right measures to mitigate anything that could threaten our peace and stability.” He added that “This is not the first meeting of its kind, but it is a particularly important one, which is why we convened it today.”

Abiodun said the discussions form part of a broader effort to ensure that Ogun State remains safe for all residents. “These formed part of our remarks as we engaged with the service chiefs this morning, reaffirming our shared commitment to keeping Ogun State safe, peaceful, and secure for all,” he added.

The meeting was held against the backdrop of increasing attacks by suspected terrorists and bandits across the country.