The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a dramatic turn Wednesday evening when Nafi’u Bala, a former gubernatorial candidate from Gombe State, proclaimed himself the party’s new national chairman.
At a press conference held in Abuja, Bala launched a scathing attack on the current David Mark-led interim leadership, alleging constitutional violations in their assumption of party control.
“Bonafide members of the ADC will challenge this unlawful takeover in court,” declared Bala, who previously held the position of national deputy chairman within the party structure.
The development represents the latest chapter in an ongoing power struggle that began when opposition politicians selected the ADC as their coalition vehicle for the 2027 elections. The coalition boasts heavyweight political figures including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former governors, ministers, and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The crisis deepened following Ralph Nwosu’s July 2 announcement that the party’s National Working Committee had resigned, paving the way for Mark’s interim leadership. Nwosu, the ADC’s founder and former chairman, later claimed federal authorities offered him three ministerial positions in exchange for abandoning the opposition coalition arrangement.
However, significant resistance has emerged from within ADC ranks, with several party members arguing that their organization should not serve as a “private coalition platform” for political elites who were not original party members.
During his press conference, Bala delivered harsh criticism of what he termed “political hooliganism” by current party leadership.
“We are all living witnesses to the show of shame and acts of lawlessness being displayed by these unscrupulous leaders,” Bala stated. “The idea of mortgaging the future of our great party, by abdicating the constitutional duties and responsibilities of all elected officers of the party, to some powerful outsiders who never belong to the party, is condemnable.”
He characterized recent leadership changes as a “shoddily rehearsed political melodrama” that violated democratic principles and party constitutional provisions.
“This total surrender and capitulation is without any known precedent in our democratic journey to constitutional order,” Bala continued, promising legal action if the situation remains unresolved.
The newly self-declared chairman emphasized that party succession procedures are explicitly outlined in the ADC constitution, claiming his assumption of leadership follows proper constitutional guidelines.
Bala has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “urgently” recognize his chairmanship, setting up a potential legal battle over the party’s legitimate leadership.
The ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has also criticized the coalition arrangement, arguing that it undermines the party’s identity and sidelines grassroots members.
This leadership dispute threatens to complicate the opposition coalition’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, as questions mount over which faction holds legitimate control of the party structure and resources.
