A fresh leadership crisis has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following the self-declaration of Nafi’u Bala, a former governorship candidate in Gombe State, as the party’s interim national chairman, Dockaysworld reports.
Bala, who previously served as the party’s deputy national chairman, made the announcement on Wednesday night, during a press conference in Abuja.
He accused the current leadership under former Senate President David Mark of illegally usurping control of the party and violating 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,” Bala stated.
The recent development can be traced to party’s recent adoption as a coalition platform for opposition heavyweights ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier in July, Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and former national chairman, announced the resignation of the National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed an interim leadership led by David Mark.
The coalition comprises prominent political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; ex-governors Nasir el-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke; and former ministers such as Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Solomon Dalung, and others.
Bala, however, denounced the move as unconstitutional and declared himself interim chairman in line with what he described as the party’s succession guidelines. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognise his leadership.
“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, insisting that the ADC’s internal rules clearly outline the procedure for leadership transition and filling vacancies.
