ADC: I am the authentic national chairman, Bala insists

August 10, 2025 by Dele Anofi

• …as faction fizzles out, denies pressure, bribery 

Former National Deputy Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala, has insisted he remains the legitimate national chairman of the party, describing the David Mark-led National Executive Committee (NEC) as illegal and unconstitutional.

In an exclusive interview, Bala dismissed claims of forming a faction within the ADC, stating, “I have never had any faction. I am the only national chairman of the party. Any other group claiming to be party leadership is not legitimate.”

He further argued that the ADC constitution is clear on leadership eligibility, adding that those currently claiming to head the party “are not even registered members.”

“You cannot just appear and take a leadership role. According to the constitution, you must be a member for at least one year before holding such a position, unless granted a waiver by the National Working Committee.”

Bala insisted that his position as National Chairman is backed by both the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Reacting to the inauguration of the David Mark-led group, which was attended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bala said, “That meeting was illegal. I was the National Chairman at the time and should have presided over it. 

“The constitution states that if the National Chairman resigns, the Deputy National Chairman takes over. On that day, the then-Chairman resigned, and I assumed office immediately. 

“The meeting led by Nwosu and others was unconstitutional. INEC may have been present, but they were not aware of all the facts, including the resignation letter and my rightful succession. I have never resigned from my position.”

Read Also: 2027: ADC struggles for presence in Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, Delta, others

Referring to what he described as a fabricated letter of resignation, he accused Nwosu and the David Mark-led group of desperation, alleging they forged his signature as well as those of some state chairmen in connection with a Court of Appeal terms of settlement that purportedly affirmed Nwosu as the party’s National Chairman, among other irregularities.

Bala said he had already reported the matter to security agencies for further action, while disclosing that he had taken both legal and administrative measures to assert his authority.

“I went to court before the Nwosu-led meeting and sought an order to stop them. I also wrote officially to INEC, informing them that I had resumed as Acting National Chairman until my tenure ends next year,” he said.

Bala also dismissed as false the claim that he had aligned with a faction of the party, saying, “I only recognize those elected at our last convention in Zaria. 

“I am not aware of any agreement with David Mark, Atiku, or others who are not even registered members of ADC. I don’t belong to any faction. I am the official National Chairman of the party in the eyes of our party’s constitution and the Constitution of Nigeria. 

“Our constitution requires a proper process for membership and leadership eligibility. No one can just walk in and take over.”

On the alleged amendment of the party constitution in May, Bala said, “I was not aware. You cannot amend our constitution without a properly convened convention and the consent of members. 

“Any amendment done outside this process is fraudulent and criminal. Some people are treating the party like personal property. They have destroyed their former parties, the PDP and the Labour Party, and they want to destroy the APC, and now they want to destroy ADC too. I will not allow that.”

Bala also rejected suggestions that he is fighting alone, saying, “I am not alone. Those claiming to be chairmen are fake. I meet regularly with the legitimate state chairmen. Anyone siding with the so-called faction is not a recognized leader. 

“I have advised David Mark, whom I once respected, to stop this. If he or anyone else wants leadership, they should register, wait for the next convention, and contest properly. That is the democratic way.”

Looking ahead, Bala vowed to defend the constitution of both the ADC and Nigeria, stressing, “Everyone claiming leadership should go back, register properly, and respect both the party constitution and the Nigerian constitution. 

“I will not allow anyone, even a chairman, to take over party leadership without due process.”

Meanwhile, a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned it will reject the party’s coalition arrangement outright if what it describes as hijack techniques and the marginalization of original members continue.

Speaking ahead of what he described as ‘a way forward meeting’ scheduled for Hadejia in a couple of days, the National Publicity Secretary of a faction of the Party Continental Youth Council (CYC), Dr Musa Isa Matar, said the group has already launched party membership registration, card distribution, and the reception of new members.

He insisted that recent concessions from the coalition were the only reason they had agreed to step back from earlier agitations.

“Some people have been saying we were bribed, convinced, or pressured by coalition bigwigs, that is not true. There was no bribery or compulsion, it was more of a persuasion. 

“Political actors, especially from our various states, engaged us in several activities and assured us that, God willing, there would be a synergy in all party activities going forward.”

He recalled that at the start of the coalition coming to ADC, a 30–70 power-sharing agreement was reached, giving ADC members 30 percent of positions and the coalition team drawn from other political parties like LP, PDP, and others the remaining 70 percent.

“Now they have agreed to go on 50–50, especially from the state where I came from. That convinced us to subscribe to their idea so as not to be a source of commotion in the party,” he explained, adding that they were promised appointments within a month or two.

However, he accused coalition leaders of breaching the earlier agreement by excluding ADC members from key appointments and failing to deliver the promised quota.

“That led to agitation, it was not self-declared, it was our unanimous opinion,” he said.

He said that after interventions from political stakeholders in Abuja and Kaduna, the group was offered a new 50–50 power-sharing arrangement, adding that the faction would wait to see whether the agreement is faithfully implemented.

“If there is fairness and equitable treatment, we will avoid chaos. But if we notice hijacking or injustice, we will revolt again,” he warned.

According to him, the group’s old ADC structure remains intact, with all members registered and documented.

“If there is any attempt at hijacking or manipulation, we will reject the coalition outright,” he declared.