The recent tension within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) stems from the party’s adoption by a coalition of opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In early July, Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and former national chairman, announced the resignation of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed an interim leadership led by Mark.
The coalition includes notable political figures such as ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former ministers including Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, and Solomon Dalung, and former governors like Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke.
However, the party is faced internal crisis as Nafi’u Bala declared himself interim national chairman, vowing to go against David Mark’s leadership
Bala argued that powerful outsiders like Atiku, Obi, and el-Rufai are hijacking the party without formal membership
Bala threatened legal action, while calling on INEC for recognition, warning that ADC risks collapse ahead of the 2027 elections if the crisis persists
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing internal crisis as Nafi’u Bala, a former governorship candidate in Gombe state, has declared himself the interim national chairman of the party.
Bala accused the leadership of the opposition coalition headed by former Senate President David Mark of illegally taking over the party and violating its constitution.
Bala made this declaration while addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday night, July 31.
He said: “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.”
However, this move was met with strong resistance from some ADC members, including Bala and Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
They argue that the party should not become a “private coalition platform” controlled by elite politicians who have no affiliation with the ADC.
Bala: ‘We’ll challenge the takeover in court
Bala described the coalition’s actions as a “show of shame” and said they amount to a complete disregard for the party’s constitution and principles.
“We are all living witnesses to the show of shame and acts of lawlessness being displayed by these unscrupulous leaders.
“The idea of mortgaging the future of our great party to powerful outsiders who never belonged to the party is condemnable,” Bala said.
He warned that if the current crisis is not resolved constitutionally, he and other “bonafide members” of the ADC will not hesitate to take legal action.
“If these individuals choose to ignore our calls to obey constitutional guidelines and remain recalcitrant, we shall proceed to challenge these gross acts of impunity in court and bring them to justice.”
Citing constitutional provisions of the ADC, Bala declared himself as the interim national chairman and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him immediately. “In the history of democracy all over the world, no party leader or group of leaders have the power to arbitrarily transfer elected mandates to non-members,” he said.
He insisted that the party’s constitution clearly defines succession and the process for filling vacant positions, and said his action was in line with those rules.
With the 2027 election drawing closer, the internal wrangling within the ADC threatens to derail the party’s unity and credibility as a coalition platform.
As court battles loom and factions dig in their heels, observers say the ADC may need urgent intervention to prevent a total collapse of the gains it hoped to make in the build-up to the next general elections.
