A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following a dramatic declaration by Nafi’u Bala, the party’s former governorship candidate in Gombe State and ex-national deputy chairman, who has named himself the interim national chairman of the party.
Speaking at a late-night press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Bala launched a scathing attack on the faction of the party led by former Senate President David Mark, accusing it of orchestrating an “illegal hijack” of the party’s leadership in violation of its constitution.
“We wish to draw the attention of all members of our great party and Nigerians at large, to the ongoing acts of political hooliganism being perpetrated by some individuals who were hitherto entrusted with the leadership of the party,” Vanguard quoted Bala as saying.
He alleged that the party’s structures had been surrendered to individuals with no real affiliation to the ADC, warning that the move threatens internal democracy and the party’s ideological foundation.
Bala’s declaration comes in response to the July 2 announcement by Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and former national chairman, who dissolved the ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed an interim leadership led by David Mark.
That restructuring was part of a broader political realignment in which prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Uche Secondus, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai, adopted the ADC as the coalition platform for the 2027 general elections.
Bala described the move as a “shameful political takeover orchestrated by outsiders” and a “political melodrama,” denouncing what he sees as a betrayal of party principles.
“In the history of democracy all over the world, no party leader or group of leaders has the power to arbitrarily transfer elected mandates or political authority to non-members,” he said, insisting that only duly elected party officials have the legal and moral right to administer the ADC’s affairs.
He further claimed that his ascension to the interim national chairmanship is in line with the party’s constitution, which outlines clear procedures for leadership succession.
“I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently recognise me as the legitimate chairman of the African Democratic Congress,” Bala urged.
He warned that unless the Mark-led leadership reverses course and adheres to the party’s constitutional provisions, he would pursue legal action to restore what he described as “a lawful, transparent, and people-driven leadership.”
The unfolding crisis marks a critical juncture for the ADC, especially as the party seeks to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
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