2027: ADC Will Not Field Candidates Above 55 Years, Says Factional Chairman

The factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala, has announced that the party will not present any candidate above 55 years of age in the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, saying the policy is aimed at promoting youth inclusion in leadership and reshaping the party’s future.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Bala said the proposed ADC candidate age limit is intended to create space for younger Nigerians to take up elective positions across all levels of government.

He said many political actors in the country are already too old to continue in leadership, insisting that the time had come for a generational shift.

“All the new illegal members are 88, 75, 90 years of age. They should allow us youths to step in and lead. My focus is to ensure that anyone over the age of 55 will not be a candidate of the ADC. It is high time the youths are given a chance,” he said.

Bala maintained that the policy would apply to all elective positions, including presidential, governorship, and legislative offices, as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The African Democratic Congress has, however, been facing an ongoing internal leadership crisis, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s national structure.

The situation has been further complicated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has reportedly declined to recognise any of the competing factions as the legitimate leadership of the party, deepening uncertainty over its direction ahead of the next general election.

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Addressing allegations that he is being backed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilize the opposition ahead of 2027, Bala dismissed the claims as false and politically motivated.

“These people, judging by their history in their former political parties, are used to causing conflicts and strife. They are trying to do the same thing in the ADC,” he said.

Bala also reacted to his absence from a reconciliation meeting reportedly convened by former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying he was occupied with preparations for the 2027 elections and did not consider the invitation official.

He questioned the legitimacy of the meeting, insisting that party matters should be handled through proper ADC structures rather than informal discussions.

“We are planning for the 2027 elections and have a lot of engagements. I am not someone who has free time to attend any meeting called in someone’s parlour,” he said.

The factional chairman further insisted that the ongoing crisis in the party can only be resolved through strict adherence to the ADC constitution and proper membership procedures.

He urged new entrants into the party to follow due process, warning against attempts to influence party structure through informal channels or illegitimate means.

“The only way forward is for these illegitimate newcomers to go back, study our constitution and follow the proper process of joining the party,” he added.

Bala also responded to criticisms of his leadership, particularly comments about his age, insisting that leadership is determined by competence and divine will rather than background or influence.

Despite the internal wrangling, he reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning the ADC and ensuring greater participation of young Nigerians in politics ahead of the 2027 elections in Nigeria.

2027: ADC Will Not Field Candidates Above 55 Years, Says Factional Chairman

NBA Warns Lawyers, Courts Against Interfering in Political Party Disputes

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned lawyers and the judiciary against involvement in political party disputes in Nigeria, cautioning that continued court interference in intra-party matters could undermine democratic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Friday by NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN), the association expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of litigation dragging courts into internal party conflicts, despite clear restrictions under the Electoral Act 2022.

The NBA said recent political developments show an increasing misuse of the courts to settle internal party leadership and candidate selection disputes, warning that such actions raise serious constitutional and rule-of-law concerns.

According to the association, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act prohibit courts from interfering in the internal affairs of political parties, except in limited circumstances provided by law. It also stressed that the law restricts the granting of interim or interlocutory injunctions in such cases.

The NBA quoted parts of the law to emphasize that courts are expected to avoid premature intervention and instead allow cases to proceed to accelerated hearing and final judgment where necessary.

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Despite these provisions, the association lamented that some courts have continued to entertain such cases, issuing orders that affect party leadership structures and internal governance decisions.

The NBA also accused some lawyers of engaging in forum shopping and filing what it described as mala fide applications aimed at securing favourable judicial outcomes in politically sensitive matters.

It warned that such practices amount to an abuse of court process and a breach of professional ethics, stressing that lawyers must not act as political actors in pursuit of partisan advantage.

The association further stated that any legal practitioner found guilty of deliberately filing politically motivated suits or seeking ex parte orders in violation of statutory provisions risks disciplinary action before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

NBA President Afam Osigwe urged lawyers to uphold professional integrity and avoid being used as instruments of political manipulation, especially in matters where jurisdiction is clearly excluded by law.

The association also called on courts to exercise restraint and reject invitations to intervene in disputes that the law expressly bars them from adjudicating, warning that judicial involvement in such matters could weaken public confidence in the judiciary.

It further urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sanction judicial officers who assume jurisdiction in prohibited cases or issue orders contrary to electoral laws.

The NBA also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and avoid actions that could be perceived as interference in internal party politics, stressing the importance of institutional neutrality in preserving democratic credibility.

According to the association, the increasing reliance on courts to resolve internal party conflicts risks turning the judiciary into a political battleground and undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.

The NBA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rule of law and ensuring that all stakeholders operate strictly within constitutional boundaries as the country approaches the 2027 elections in Nigeria.

NBA Warns Lawyers, Courts Against Interfering in Political Party Disputes

ADC Crisis: Mark-Led Faction Sues INEC Over Party Leadership Removal

A major leadership crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a faction led by former Senate President, David Mark, has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the removal of key party leaders from its official records.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, is challenging INEC’s decision to delete the names of Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its portal on April 1, 2026.

Through his lawyer, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), the Mark-led faction is seeking a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the ADC leadership as it existed before the dispute. The plaintiffs argue that the commission’s action is unlawful and has deepened the ongoing ADC leadership crisis.

The court filings further seek an order setting aside INEC’s decision and directing the electoral body to reinstate the entire National Working Committee (NWC), including members of the National Executive Committee. The faction is also asking the court to restrain INEC from recognising any rival leadership pending the final determination of the case.

According to the applicants, INEC’s action contradicts an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal delivered on March 12, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum—meaning the leadership structure should remain unchanged until the dispute is resolved.

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Counsel to the faction argued that as of September 2025, when the initial suit was instituted, Mark was the duly recognised National Chairman of the ADC, with a validly constituted leadership structure already in place. He added that the plaintiff in the originating suit, Nafiu Gombe, had resigned his previous position and had no subsisting role within the party.

The lawyer maintained that INEC’s removal of the leadership names amounts to non-recognition of a valid party structure, creating confusion and a vacuum within the party. He warned that the development could destabilise the ADC and weaken its internal operations if not urgently addressed.

In addition to seeking restoration of the leadership, the Mark-led faction has filed a separate application for an accelerated hearing, urging the court to fast-track the case due to its urgency and potential impact on Nigeria’s political landscape.

The motion is requesting shortened timelines for filing processes and day-to-day hearings until the matter is concluded. According to the legal team, the prolonged dispute could lead to the emergence of parallel leadership factions, further complicating the party’s structure.

The origins of the crisis date back to September 2025 when the Federal High Court declined an ex parte application by Gombe to halt the activities of the Mark-led leadership. The matter later moved to the Court of Appeal, which directed all parties to return to the lower court and maintain the existing structure pending final resolution.

In the substantive suit, Gombe listed the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, INEC, and Ralph Nwosu as defendants. Nwosu had earlier stepped down, paving the way for Mark’s emergence as national chairman.

The ongoing ADC vs INEC court case is expected to test the boundaries of INEC’s authority in internal party disputes and could have far-reaching implications for party leadership recognition in Nigeria.

ADC Crisis: Mark-Led Faction Sues INEC Over Party Leadership Removal