A fresh twist in ADC’s internal power struggle
The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took another turn on Wednesday as Nafiu Bala declared himself the authentic National Chairman of the party.
Speaking at a press briefing to mark his official assumption of office, Bala argued that both the Electoral Act and the ADC’s constitution position him as the rightful successor following the resignation of longtime chairman Ralph Nwosu.
So, what happened?
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Ralph Nwosu recently stepped down after the ADC was adopted by an opposition coalition.
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In response, David Mark was appointed as interim chairman.
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But Bala, who was the Deputy National Chairman, is not having it.
He claims the appointment of Mark was unconstitutional and driven by outside influence—specifically pointing fingers at coalition leaders like former VP Atiku Abubakar, whom he accuses of hijacking the party.
Bala’s argument: It’s in the rules
“Our party’s constitution is very clear. When the chairman resigns, the deputy steps in,” Bala said.
He insists that there was no official transition process involving a new interim leader and that he has now assumed full leadership of the ADC.
What this means for the ADC
With Bala rejecting the coalition-backed leadership shift, the ADC faces more internal division just months after aligning with opposition forces ahead of upcoming elections.
The party has yet to officially respond to Bala’s declaration.
