ADC crisis deepens, court orders detention of factional chairman in Kebbi

ADC crisis deepens, court orders detention of factional chairman in Kebbi

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a new turn in Kebbi State after a Magistrate Court in Birnin Kebbi ordered the detention of factional state chairman, Sufyanu Bala, over alleged contempt of court.

The ruling was delivered on Monday by Magistrate Abubakar Koko, who directed that Bala be remanded in custody pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The case has further intensified the ongoing ADC leadership crisis in Kebbi State, where rival factions continue to battle for control of the party structure.

The matter was filed by a rival faction led by Abdulrazaq Abubakar Iko, who is also laying claim to the state chairmanship. The faction is seeking a court order restraining Bala from parading himself as the legitimate ADC chairman in Kebbi State, arguing that he has violated an earlier court directive.

Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Garba Abubakar Shehu, told the court that the application was necessary to enforce compliance with a subsisting order, insisting that the defendant had continued to act in defiance of judicial authority.

However, the defence team, led by Barrister Ahmad Abubakar Fingilla, challenged the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court, arguing that the matter was already before the High Court and therefore outside the lower court’s competence.

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According to him, the alleged contempt did not originate from the Magistrate Court, making the proceedings “fundamentally flawed.”

Despite the objection, Magistrate Koko ruled that the case would proceed and ordered Bala’s remand, while adjourning further hearing.

Reacting after the ruling, Sufyanu Bala, who is reportedly aligned with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alleged that the case was politically motivated.

He claimed that rival political interests, allegedly working with state actors, were attempting to destabilise the party structure and prevent his faction from participating in future elections.

“Yes, the magistrate ordered my arrest and detention, but the case has been adjourned. Under the Constitution, the court has no jurisdiction, but the state government is behind this,” he said, insisting that the matter would be pursued to a “logical conclusion.”

The rival faction led by Abdulrazaq Abubakar Iko maintained that the action was necessary to enforce an existing court order restraining Bala from acting as state chairman. Iko insisted that Bala had continued to defy judicial directives despite clear legal restrictions.

The ongoing dispute reflects a deepening political crisis within the ADC in Kebbi State, where parallel factions have emerged, each holding separate congresses and issuing conflicting claims to party leadership.

Political observers say the crisis could further weaken the party’s structure ahead of future elections, as internal divisions increasingly play out in court rather than through party reconciliation mechanisms.

Analysts also note that such factional battles are common in smaller opposition parties in Nigeria, where control of party structures often leads to prolonged legal and political disputes.

As the case continues, stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention to restore unity and prevent further fragmentation within the party’s Kebbi State chapter.

ADC crisis deepens, court orders detention of factional chairman in Kebbi