Leadership Crisis Rocks ADC as Ex-Guber Candidate Nafi’u Bala Declares Himself National Chairman
A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as Nafi’u Bala, former governorship candidate in Gombe State and ex-National Deputy Chairman of the party, has declared himself the interim National Chairman.
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday night in Abuja, Bala accused the faction led by former Senate President David Mark of illegally usurping the party’s leadership and violating its constitution. He described the development as a “shameful political takeover orchestrated by outsiders” and vowed to challenge it in court.
“We wish to draw the attention of all members of our great party, and Nigerians at large, to the ongoing acts of political hooliganism perpetrated by individuals who were previously entrusted with the leadership of the ADC,” Bala stated.
He alleged that the party’s structures had been unlawfully handed over to individuals with no affiliation to the ADC, warning that such actions undermine internal democracy and party integrity.
Bala’s declaration follows a July 2 announcement by the party’s founder and former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, who dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed an interim leadership headed by David Mark. That transition came on the heels of a major political development in which opposition leaders—including Atiku Abubakar, Uche Secondus, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi, and Nasir el-Rufai—reportedly adopted the ADC as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bala condemned the move as a “political melodrama” and a betrayal of the party’s core principles, accusing the faction of sidelining genuine party members in favor of “political strangers.” He insisted that only duly elected party officials have the authority to manage the party’s structures.
“In democratic systems worldwide, no party leader or group of leaders has the power to arbitrarily transfer elected mandates or political authority to non-members,” he emphasized.
According to Bala, the ADC constitution provides a clear framework for leadership succession. He asserted that, based on those provisions, he is the legitimate interim National Chairman.
“I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognize me as the authentic chairman of the African Democratic Congress,” he said.
Bala concluded with a warning that if the current leadership under Mark continues to flout the party’s constitution, he will pursue legal action to reverse what he described as an “unprecedented act of impunity.”