Fresh controversy has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its self-declared acting National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, has distanced himself from the party’s recent leadership transition, claiming he was misled into attending the event where new leaders were announced.
Speaking during an interview on AIT News on Monday, Bala refuted reports suggesting he endorsed the emergence of former Senate President David Mark and ex-governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Chairman and Secretary of the party, respectively.
According to Bala, the event—held in July 2025—was presented to him as a routine gathering to formally adopt new members into a coalition led by former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu. However, he claimed the meeting took an unexpected turn.
“I was tricked into attending what I believed was a coalition adoption programme,” Bala said. “On that same day, Nwosu announced his resignation and immediately unveiled new party executives, including David Mark. That was not what I was invited for.”
Bala, who served as Deputy National Chairman at the time, stated that he only became aware of the true purpose of the gathering after proceedings had already begun. He insisted he neither consented to nor had prior knowledge of the leadership overhaul.
Addressing questions over his delayed reaction, Bala explained that he opted for consultations with key party stakeholders before taking formal steps. He noted that after engaging members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), he formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his assumption of office as acting National Chairman.
However, Bala said INEC responded by indicating that he had previously resigned from his position as Deputy National Chairman—a claim he described as part of the broader deception surrounding the leadership change.
Following internal consultations, Bala added that his faction proceeded to seek legal redress, further escalating the party’s internal dispute.
As of the time of reporting, neither Nwosu nor the faction aligned with Mark has publicly responded to Bala’s allegations.
The crisis within the ADC has since intensified, with at least three factions now laying claim to the party’s leadership. Aside from the Mark-led bloc and Bala’s camp, another group loyal to former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu has also emerged, each accusing the others of illegitimacy and attempts to hijack party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a significant development, INEC has reportedly withdrawn recognition of the Mark-led leadership following a court ruling, stating it will not oversee any party activities—including meetings, congresses, or conventions—until the matter is resolved by the Federal High Court.
Meanwhile, the Mark-led faction has alleged external interference, accusing the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of backing rival camps to weaken the opposition and smooth the path for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the next general elections.
The APC and the Presidency have denied the allegations, maintaining that the ADC should resolve its internal disputes without attributing blame to the ruling government.
With legal battles underway and no immediate resolution in sight, the unfolding leadership crisis threatens to further destabilise the ADC’s structure as the 2027 elections approach.
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