ADC Crisis: Fresh Twist as Factional Chair Raises Fresh Allegation Against Atiku, David Mark, Others
- Nafiu Bala has rejected claims that he resigned as ADC's deputy national chairman, insisting the document showing his resignation was forged
- Bala said he resumed office as acting national chairman in line with the party constitution following the resignation of former leaders
- Recall that David Mark challenged Bala’s position in court, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal and upheld Bala’s authority
FCT, Abuja - Nafiu Bala, acting national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has dismissed claims that he resigned as the party's deputy national chairman.
He further insisted that a document purporting to show his resignation was forged.
Source: Twitter
Bala’s statement follows recent actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the ongoing leadership crisis within the party, The Cable reported.
Bala denies resignation and exposes forged document
In a video published by Rariya Hausa, Bala said,
“My name is Hon. Nafiu Bala, the ADC acting national chairman. I would like to use this opportunity to address a document currently circulating, which claims that I resigned from my position as national vice chairman on May 17th. 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 emphasised that any legitimate resignation from his office would be issued on his official letterhead.
“When I was deputy national chairman, if I were to write a resignation letter, I would do it using my official letterhead. Any letter not containing my letterhead is not from me,” he added.
ADC: Bala speaks on party's constitution
Bala explained that he assumed the role of acting national chairman following the resignation of the party’s former leadership.
“If you didn’t forget, on the 2nd of July, we attended the event where some people showed interest in joining our party, the ADC. On that day, the former ADC chairman, Ralph Nwosu, announced that he, his secretary, and other party leaders were stepping down from their positions. On that same day, he told the world that I, along with other people, would continue running the party affairs until the national convention.
“Because of that, I am resuming office today as the ADC national chairman. According to our party constitution, when there is no leader, the deputy takes over,” he added.
Legal tussle with David Mark intensifies
The issue of Bala’s alleged resignation forms part of a broader leadership dispute between him and former Senate President David Mark. Mark has argued that Bala resigned on May 17, 2025, and that INEC had duly recorded it.
“One of the officials in the dissolved NWC was Nafiu Bala, who was one of the Deputy National Chairmen of the party. It is on record that Gombe resigned this position on 17th May, 2025. His resignation was also duly transmitted to INEC on the 12th of August, 2025. Regardless of his resignation, he decided to approach the courts on September 2nd, 2025, four clear months after his resignation, seeking to be recognised as the Chairman of the ADC,” Mark said.
Bala approaches court to assert authority
On September 2, 2025, Bala filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain Mark’s team from acting as party leaders and to compel INEC to recognise him as acting national chairman, Vanguard reported.
Source: Twitter
He also sought orders preventing the party from holding meetings, congresses, or conventions until the court resolves the matter.
The ex parte motion was heard on September 4, 2025, with trial judge Emeka Nwite directing that the respondents, including INEC, be put on notice to show cause why the motion should not be granted.
Mark later appealed against the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, but on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in its entirety, ruling it incompetent and unmeritorious.
Crisis continues to impact ADC recognition
The leadership dispute has prompted INEC to withdraw recognition of the Mark-led faction and delist its executives from the commission’s portal, escalating political tensions within the party.
Bala’s insistence that his resignation was forged adds a fresh twist to the ongoing conflict, reinforcing his position as the acting national chairman of the ADC.
APC taunts ADC over party woes
Legit.ng earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the party as “an assembly of Nigeria’s most confused and desperate politicians” and accusing it of spreading unfounded conspiracy theories against the APC.
In a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party argued that the ADC’s internal crisis is self-inflicted and warned that blaming the APC for its problems is “highly escapist and irresponsible.”
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
