Fresh videos showing Nafiu Bala at the July 2025 unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) interim leadership led by former Senate President David Mark have added a new twist to the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The footage, which has been circulating widely on social media, captures Bala seated among party stakeholders during the event held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. He is seen sitting in the same row with Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party, and other political figures who attended the gathering.
Stakeholders who were present at the ceremony confirmed Bala’s attendance, reinforcing earlier video evidence from the July 2, 2025 event that showed him at the programme where the Mark-led leadership was introduced.
During the ceremony, former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie introduced Bala to the audience as the ADC deputy national chairman (intergovernmental affairs). Onochie co-moderated the event alongside former Kogi senator Dino Melaye, and Bala briefly stood to acknowledge the introduction.
At the same gathering, Ralph Nwosu, founder and then national chairman of the party, announced that members of the ADC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) had agreed to step down to allow Mark assume the role of interim national chairman.
The new footage has sparked renewed debate because Bala later rejected the leadership arrangement and declared himself national chairman of the party.
Efforts to reach Bala for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to his phone were not returned.
Bala’s Claim to Chairmanship
On July 30, 2025, less than a month after the unveiling event, Bala addressed a press conference in Abuja where he announced that he was the national chairman of the ADC.
He accused the Mark-led leadership of unlawfully taking over the party and violating its constitution.
Bala also rejected claims that he had resigned from his position as deputy national chairman, describing the purported resignation letter attributed to him as “false, deceptive and malicious.” He vowed that loyal party members would challenge the alleged takeover in court.
Court Dispute
The disagreement later moved to the courts. On September 2, 2025, Bala filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to restrain the Mark-led executives from presenting themselves as the party’s leadership.
He also asked the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the interim leadership and to compel the commission to recognise him as acting national chairman.
When the matter came up on September 4, 2025, Justice Emeka Nwite directed the respondents, including INEC, to show cause why Bala’s request should not be granted.
Mark subsequently approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the case.
However, in a judgement delivered on March 12, 2026, the appellate court dismissed the appeal, ruling that it lacked merit. The three-member panel led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the lower court had not issued any substantive order but had merely directed parties to respond to the motion.
The court also instructed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the case before the Federal High Court.
INEC Steps Aside
Following the appellate court ruling, INEC announced that it would no longer recognise either of the rival factions within the ADC pending the final resolution of the case.
The electoral commission said it would refrain from attending meetings, congresses or conventions organised by the factions in compliance with the court order.
But the Mark-led faction rejected INEC’s interpretation of the ruling, alleging that the decision was part of a broader attempt to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Claims of Political Interference
The crisis has also triggered political accusations, with some opposition figures alleging that Bala may be receiving backing from elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the ADC before the next general elections.
According to those raising the concerns, the prolonged leadership dispute could undermine the party’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
However, the APC has denied any involvement in the crisis, insisting that the dispute within the ADC is an internal matter that the opposition party must resolve on its own.
Leave a Reply