A factional leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala, has accused the party’s former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, of deceiving him into attending a key political event that later turned out to be the unveiling of a rival leadership structure.
Speaking during an interview on AIT on Monday, Bala said he had been informed that the gathering was meant for the adoption of new members. However, he claimed he later discovered it was actually the formal handover of party leadership to a coalition led by David Mark.
“I was told it was an adoption of new members, but Ralph Nwosu tricked me into attending the handover ceremony of the David Mark-led coalition into the ADC,” Bala said.
He added that the event marked a major turning point in the party’s ongoing internal crisis, alleging that Nwosu used the same occasion to announce his resignation and introduce a new leadership team.
“That was the day Nwosu was announcing his resignation, on the same day he was announcing David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as executives,” he stated.
The development is the latest twist in the leadership tussle that has split the ADC into factions, with different groups laying claim to the party’s control. At the centre of the dispute is the emergence of the Mark-led bloc, which Bala and his supporters have rejected.
Bala insisted that his response to the situation followed due process. He said he convened a National Executive Council meeting and carried out consultations across the country before taking action.
“One week after, I consulted widely. After that, I wrote to INEC, stating that as deputy national chairman, I had assumed office as acting national chairman,” he said.
He also alleged that the crisis deepened after he discovered that his signature had been forged on documents linked to the resignation of party executives, which paved the way for the new leadership.
“When I found out that my signature was forged, I filed a suit against the David Mark-led group and informed Nigerians through the media,” Bala added.
The crisis in the ADC intensified ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially after opposition figures began forming alliances within the party. Bala, who was deputy national chairman at the time, rejected the leadership changes, insisting he never resigned and should have automatically taken over.
The dispute has since moved to the courts, with conflicting claims presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). After reviewing court rulings and submissions from both sides, INEC announced it would maintain the status quo and avoid recognising either faction pending the final resolution of the case.
