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.

ADC Crisis Deepens as Bala Denies Resignation, Insists on Chairmanship

Obi Criticises Former NADECO Figures, Compares Them to Abacha

Former Anambra governor and opposition leader Peter Obi has sparked intense debate by asserting that Nigeria’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, demonstrated more democratic and respectful conduct than some individuals who once identified as pro-democracy activists during the NADECO era. The comments were made in a post shared on Obi’s X (formerly Twitter) account and come amid ongoing leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Obi, who ran as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023 and now plays a key role in the ADC, criticised what he described as the irony of history: “Yesterday defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers. What a shame.” He added that some former NADECO activists, once celebrated for their fight for human rights, have now become worse than the man they opposed.

He wrote: “Today, General Sani Abacha, once presumed face of oppression, will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days. Power indeed reveals character.”

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The remarks coincide with a major INEC intervention in ADC leadership, following a Court of Appeal ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026. INEC removed the names of Senator David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as national chairman and national secretary, respectively. The commission also declined to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking court approval as national chairman. INEC said it would suspend recognition of affected officials and refrain from monitoring party conventions until the Federal High Court resolves the substantive case.

Obi’s comments have been met with mixed reactions. Supporters see them as a candid critique of political hypocrisy, highlighting how some former democracy champions have allegedly abandoned the principles they once defended. Critics, however, argue that comparing Abacha — whose regime was widely condemned for human rights abuses — to pro-democracy activists undermines Nigeria’s democratic legacy.

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was formed in 1994 to demand a return to civilian rule after the annulment of the 1993 elections. Its members, including activists and politicians, played a pivotal role in opposing military dictatorship and advocating for democratic governance.

As the ADC navigates its internal leadership disputes and positions itself ahead of the 2027 general election, Obi’s remarks underscore ongoing debates about democratic accountability, political integrity, and the evolution of leadership in Nigeria.

Obi Criticises Former NADECO Figures, Compares Them to Abacha

Obidients Movement Escalates Pressure on INEC, Demands Joash Amupitan Step Down

The Obidients Movement has announced plans for a nationwide protest, tagged #OccupyINEC, demanding the resignation of INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan over the commission’s handling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership crisis.

The movement claims that recent INEC actions threaten Nigeria’s democracy and compromise the neutrality of key institutions. In a statement released Wednesday, Obidients warned that inaction at this critical moment amounts to complicity.

“There are moments in the life of a nation when silence becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity. Nigeria has arrived at such a moment,” the group said.

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The Obidients Movement accused INEC of bias and political interference in opposition party leadership disputes. They cited gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold neutrality, arguing that these actions undermine the credibility of the electoral process. The group also demanded full respect for party autonomy, an immediate end to political persecution, and protection of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

The nationwide protests will take place across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In Abuja, demonstrators are set to assemble at the ADC National Headquarters before marching to the INEC Secretariat in Maitama. Organizers emphasized that the protest will be peaceful and lawful, noting it is a civic duty to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy, not an expression of anger.

“We will remain peaceful, we will remain lawful, but we will not stand by while our democracy is weakened,” the statement said.

Authorities have reportedly deployed heavy security at INEC headquarters ahead of the protest to maintain order and prevent clashes. The Obidients Movement’s action comes amid rising concerns over electoral integrity, opposition suppression, and the future of Nigeria’s multi-party system.

Obidients Movement Escalates Pressure on INEC, Demands Joash Amupitan Step Down