ADC Leadership Crisis: Nafi’u Bala Reaffirms Position as Acting National Chairman

…As North-East Stakeholders Endorse His Leadership

By Ahmad Saka, Bauchi

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has deepened, as Alhaji Nafi’u Bala, former governorship candidate of the party in Gombe State and ex-national deputy chairman, has reaffirmed his position as the legitimate Acting National Chairman of the party.

Bala made this declaration at a press conference in Bauchi on Monday, shortly after a meeting of North-East officials of the ADC.

He accused the David Mark-led faction of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership illegally, in violation of its constitution. According to him, those behind the move are “outsiders who are yet to register with the party,” describing it as a “shameful political takeover orchestrated by outsiders.”

“Our doors are open to whoever wants to join the party, but they must follow due process by registering and abiding by all rules and regulations of the ADC,” Bala stated.

He warned that the party’s structures had been unlawfully surrendered to political figures with no ties to the ADC, stressing that such actions undermine internal democracy.

Bala’s declaration comes in the wake of the July 2 announcement by Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and former national chairman, who dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed an interim leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark.

It will be recalled that several opposition leaders—including Atiku Abubakar, Uche Secondus, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, among others—recently adopted the ADC as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bala described the development as “political drama” and a betrayal of party principles, insisting that only elected officials have the authority to manage party structures.

“I was elected as the National Vice Chairman of the party three years ago during the last party convention. According to our constitution, before anyone can hold a position, he must have been a member of the party for at least one year, paying dues and participating in party activities,” Bala explained.

He further stressed that, “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.”

Bala dismissed claims that he had been suspended from the party, saying even the ward chairman had refuted such allegations. He maintained that he and other stakeholders were continuing their efforts to strengthen the party.

Meanwhile, the North-East leadership of the ADC has endorsed Bala as the legitimate Acting National Chairman. The North-East Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Zayyad Usman, who spoke at the Bauchi meeting, urged David Mark and members of the coalition to register properly with the party and follow due process “in the interest of democracy and nation-building.”