A fresh wave of leadership crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as Gombe-born politician and former governorship candidate, Nafiu Bala, has boldly declared himself the party’s Interim National Chairman.
This dramatic twist comes just days after the opposition coalition announced former Senate President David Mark as the interim chairman of ADC—a move that was seen as a strategic alignment for 2027. But Bala is now challenging that arrangement, arguing that as the duly elected National Deputy Chairman of the party, he has the constitutional right to step in.
At a fiery press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Bala didn’t mince words. He accused unnamed former leaders of selling out the party by surrendering its structures to what he called “powerful outsiders” who have no real ties to the ADC. According to him, this “political hooliganism” is not just shameful—it’s unconstitutional and dangerous.
“We all saw the show of shame recently,” Bala declared. “Elected roles are being handed over to political strangers in what can only be described as a rehearsed political melodrama. This is a total betrayal of our party’s principles and the trust of our members.”
Bala called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently recognize his new position and intervene before the crisis escalates further. He insists that the ADC constitution is clear about succession and the filling of vacant positions—and he’s simply following the rules by assuming leadership.
“If these individuals continue to act with impunity, we’ll meet them in court,” he warned. “This is not about personal ambition; it’s about protecting the soul of our party from being hijacked.”
The timing of this crisis couldn’t be more critical. With ADC recently adopted as the platform for a major opposition coalition, the battle for control has become more intense. Bala’s declaration signals that the struggle is far from over, and what happens next could either stabilize or shatter the party’s future.
As things stand, ADC is now a house divided—one faction loyal to David Mark’s leadership under the coalition deal, and another rallying behind Nafiu Bala, who claims to be defending constitutional order. All eyes are now on INEC and the courts as this political drama unfolds
