Nafiu Bala, a factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has denied reports claiming he resigned from his position as deputy national chairman.
Reacting to the development in a video, Bala said a document circulating online, which alleged that he stepped down on May 17, 2025, was not from him and carried a forged signature.
“I want to make it clear that I did not resign. That document is fake, and the signature on it is not mine,” he said.
Bala explained that his current position as acting national chairman followed the exit of the party’s former leadership. According to him, during a meeting on July 2, the then national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, alongside other members of the executive, stepped down and handed over party affairs to a new interim leadership, including himself.
He maintained that, in line with the party’s constitution, he has now taken over as acting national chairman.
“When there is a leadership vacuum, the deputy steps in. That is exactly what has happened, and I have resumed in that capacity,” he stated.
Bala also stressed that any official resignation from him would be properly documented using his official letterhead, not an unsigned or informal document circulating online.
He added that he had previously debunked the same resignation claim, describing it as false and misleading.
The controversy is part of a broader leadership crisis within the ADC, which has also drawn in former Senate President David Mark. The dispute has led to legal battles over who should be recognised as the legitimate leader of the party.
The situation escalated to the courts, with Bala seeking to stop rival factions from parading themselves as party leaders and asking for official recognition of his position.
In a recent development, the Court of Appeal dismissed a case filed by Mark, ruling it lacked merit and could not proceed.
Despite the ongoing legal tussle, Bala insists he remains the rightful acting national chairman of the party pending a national convention.
