ADC Denies Deal With Nafiu, Accuses APC Of Fueling Party Crisis
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has denied claims that it reached any agreement to make Nafiu Bala Gombe the party’s National Vice Chairman for the North East.
The party also accused the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government of backing efforts to destabilise its leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this in an interview with The PUNCH while reacting to allegations by former Adamawa North senator, Ishaku Abbo, over the party’s internal crisis.
Abbo had on Saturday linked the ADC’s leadership dispute to betrayal, internal disagreements, and outside interference.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, the former lawmaker claimed the crisis began after Nafiu Bala Gombe and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, resigned alongside former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, to allow a new leadership led by David Mark to emerge.
He also alleged that an earlier understanding on the sharing of party positions was not honoured.
Abbo wrote, “If you check the picture below, the man sitting before me is Nafiu Bala. He was at the Yar’Adua Centre, clapping and cheering as David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola took over as national chairman and secretary, respectively.
“The agreement made with the legacy party was to cede certain positions to them from each geopolitical zone so that they can be part of the larger African Democratic Congress.”
Reacting, Abdullahi dismissed the allegation, saying the national leadership of the party was not aware of any such agreement involving Nafiu Bala.
“All this talk about the ADC not keeping an agreement is not true. There is no such agreement,” he said.
“If there were any local discussions about sharing positions in the North East, we are not aware of them.
“The party is not aware. It is wrong for anyone to use this as a justification to, in connivance with the APC-led government, destroy the African Democratic Congress.”
He further alleged that the controversy was politically motivated and aimed at weakening the opposition party.
“We believe he is being sponsored by the government to destabilise our party,” Abdullahi said.
“This is why Bayo Onanuga and others are celebrating him.
“One of them even said on television that the aim is to frustrate us because we took Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai from them. So, what more evidence do you need?”
Abdullahi maintained that the party would proceed with its activities, including planned congresses and convention.
“Despite this, we are moving ahead with our plans. Congresses and the convention will hold as scheduled. INEC is not a court,” he added.
The controversy comes days after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, removed the names of some key ADC leaders, including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, from its records.
INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the action followed a court order directing it to maintain the status quo pending the final decision of the trial court.
The ADC has been locked in a leadership dispute since 2025 after a new National Working Committee led by Mark emerged in July.
The crisis was said to have stemmed from disagreements over the tenure of former chairman, Ralph Nwosu, which ended in August 2022.
Although Nwosu reportedly supported the 2025 transition, his deputy, Nafiu Bala, insisted that he should take over as acting chairman following Nwosu’s exit.
The dispute later deepened as rival factions battled for control of the party, resulting in multiple legal battles at both the appellate and apex courts.
The prolonged crisis has also raised concerns over the party’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
However, ADC leaders have maintained that the party remains focused and will not suspend its internal political process.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, David Mark insisted that all party activities, including congresses, would continue, while describing INEC’s action as unlawful.
Also speaking on Sunday, the ADC leader in Katsina State and former Minister of State for Education, Lawal Tukur Batagarawa, said the party had resolved to press on with preparations despite the legal and administrative setbacks.
Batagarawa accused INEC of deliberately misinterpreting the court order directing parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum.”
He said the commission acted wrongly by suspending the party’s leadership structure.
“The national headquarters, the national leadership of the party, in a meeting, decided that we will continue with our political activities,” he said.
“Therefore, congresses at the polling booth level, at the ward level, at the local government level, at the state level, and the national convention slated for the 14th of April will go ahead.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
