ADC Crisis Deepens as Bala Denies Resignation, Insists on Chairmanship

ADC Crisis Deepens as Bala Denies Resignation, Insists on Chairmanship

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a fresh turn, as factional national chairman, Nafiu Bala, has firmly denied reports that he resigned from his position as deputy national chairman.

Bala’s reaction follows the recent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concerning the protracted leadership tussle within the party.

In a viral video message delivered in Hausa, Bala dismissed as fake a document circulating online which purportedly showed that he resigned from his role as national vice-chairman on May 17, 2025.

“I wish to state that this paper did not come from me, and that is not my signature on it. The signature you see there was forged,” he said.

Bala, who identified himself as the acting national chairman of the party, maintained that his emergence followed the resignation of the party’s former leadership.

According to him, during a political event held on July 2, 2025, the then national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, alongside other members of the National Working Committee, stepped down and mandated him and others to oversee the party’s affairs pending the conduct of a national convention.

“On that same day, he told the world that I, along with other people, would continue running the party affairs until the national convention,” Bala stated.

He argued that, in line with the party’s constitution, he had since assumed leadership as acting national chairman, noting that a deputy is empowered to take over in the absence of a substantive leader.

Bala further insisted that any authentic resignation letter from him would have been issued on his official letterhead, stressing that the disputed document lacked such formal backing.

This is not the first time Bala has disowned the alleged resignation, having earlier, on August 1, 2025, described the document as “entirely false, deceptive, malicious and fake.”

Litigation Deepens Rift

The controversy over Bala’s status forms a critical aspect of the ongoing legal battle for the party’s leadership, involving former Senate President, David Mark.

Mark, who is leading a rival faction within the party, has maintained that Bala had indeed resigned from his position, stating that the resignation was officially communicated to INEC on August 12, 2025.

“It is on record that Gombe resigned this position on May 17, 2025,” Mark said, adding that Bala’s subsequent legal action came months after his alleged resignation.

The dispute escalated to the courts after Bala, on September 2, 2025, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to restrain Mark and his associates from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

He also requested the court to compel INEC to recognise him as the acting national chairman and to halt party activities, including meetings and conventions, pending the determination of the case.

The presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, subsequently directed that all respondents, including INEC, be put on notice.

Dissatisfied with interim proceedings, Mark approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction of the lower court.

However, in a ruling delivered on March 12, 2026, the appellate court dismissed Mark’s appeal in its entirety, describing it as incompetent and lacking merit.

INEC’s Position

The lingering crisis has significantly affected the party’s standing with INEC, which recently withdrew recognition of the ADC leadership and removed the names of the Mark-led executive from its official portal.

The development underscores the deepening factional divide within the party, raising concerns over its organisational stability ahead of future political engagements.

As both camps continue to assert legitimacy, the ADC remains embroiled in a protracted leadership battle, with legal and political uncertainties yet to be fully resolved.