Why Nafiu Bala says he is still ADC Chairman despite INEC’s freeze on party factions
Nafiu Bala denies resignation amid ADC leadership crisis
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a dramatic turn on Friday after Nafiu Bala, a key figure in the party’s factional battle, publicly denied ever resigning from his previous role and insisted that a widely circulated resignation letter was forged.
Bala’s rebuttal comes at a politically sensitive moment, just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended recognition of all rival factions in the ADC and removed the names of the David Mark-led executive from its official portal pending the outcome of an ongoing court case. The development has intensified scrutiny on who legitimately controls the party structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nafiu Bala Denies ADC Resignation, Calls Letter ‘Fake’ and ‘Forged’
In a video circulated by Rariya Hausa and widely reported by multiple Nigerian outlets, Nafiu Bala categorically rejected claims that he resigned as ADC deputy national chairman on May 17, 2025.
According to Bala, the resignation letter being cited against him did not originate from him, and the signature attached to the document was not his. He described the letter as fabricated and warned party members and the public not to attribute any communication to him unless it appears on his official letterhead. Bala also noted that he had previously dismissed the same letter in August 2025, describing it as false and malicious.
Why Nafiu Bala Says He Is the Legitimate ADC National Chairman
Bala linked his claim to the party’s top office to internal events that followed the exit of the previous ADC leadership. He said that on July 2, 2025, former party chairman Ralph Nwosu and other senior officials publicly stepped down, after which he was asked to continue overseeing party affairs until a national convention could be held.
Relying on what he says is the ADC constitution, Bala argued that the deputy automatically assumes leadership when the office of chairman becomes vacant. Based on that interpretation, he declared that he had resumed office as acting national chairman, a claim that now sits at the heart of the party’s legal and political confrontation.
READ ALSO
INEC suspends all engagement with ADC factions as David Mark NWC is removed: What this means
ADC Leadership Crisis: David Mark Faction and the Legal Dispute
Bala’s position is sharply contested by the camp aligned with former Senate President David Mark, which maintains that Bala genuinely resigned and that the resignation was properly transmitted to INEC on August 12, 2025.
That disagreement triggered a lawsuit after Bala approached the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 2, 2025, seeking recognition as acting national chairman and challenging the legitimacy of the rival faction. The dispute escalated further when the Court of Appeal on March 12, 2026, dismissed Mark’s jurisdictional challenge, a ruling widely interpreted as a legal boost for Bala’s faction, though not a final determination of who leads the party.
INEC Freezes ADC Factions Pending Court Decision
The electoral commission has taken a cautious middle-ground position. On April 1, 2026, INEC announced it would not recognise any faction within the ADC while the matter remains before the courts. It also said it would not monitor any congresses or conventions organised by either side until the substantive case is resolved.
As part of that decision, the commission removed David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as recognised party officials, but it also declined to formally recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as national chairman at this stage. INEC said the move was aimed at preserving the status quo and complying with the legal implications of the ongoing litigation.
Wike Says INEC Should Have Recognised Nafiu Bala
Adding another layer to the controversy, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike publicly weighed in on the dispute, saying in his personal view that INEC should have recognised Nafiu Bala Gombe as ADC national chairman based on the available judgment.
However, Wike also said the party should consider itself fortunate that the commission chose to recognise no faction at all until the courts settle the issue conclusively. His remarks underscore how the ADC’s internal battle is now drawing national political attention, especially as opposition realignments ahead of 2027 continue to gather momentum.
Why the Nafiu Bala-ADC Story Matters Ahead of 2027
The Nafiu Bala ADC crisis is no longer just an internal party quarrel, it has become a major test of party legality, institutional neutrality, and opposition readiness before the next election cycle.
With INEC freezing all factions, the Federal High Court yet to issue a final substantive ruling, and both camps still laying claim to legitimacy, the dispute could shape the future of the ADC’s convention plans, candidate selection process, and broader role in the 2027 elections.
For now, Bala’s “forged signature” allegation has injected fresh urgency into the case, but the decisive question remains unresolved: who truly controls the ADC? Until the courts answer that, Nigeria’s opposition landscape may remain in flux.
FAQ: Nafiu Bala, ADC Crisis, INEC and the Leadership Dispute
1. Who is Nafiu Bala in the ADC crisis?
Nafiu Bala is a factional leader in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who claims he is the party’s legitimate acting national chairman. He says he assumed the role after former ADC chairman Ralph Nwosu and other leaders stepped down in July 2025, citing the party constitution as the basis for his succession.
2. Did Nafiu Bala resign from ADC?
Nafiu Bala says he did not resign. He has publicly denied the authenticity of a letter claiming he resigned as deputy national chairman on May 17, 2025, insisting the document did not come from him and that the signature on it was forged.
3. Why is Nafiu Bala saying his signature was forged?
Bala says the resignation letter being used to challenge his legitimacy is fake and does not bear his real signature. He also argued that if he were to issue such a resignation, it would appear on his official letterhead, not as the document currently circulating.
4. Why is Nafiu Bala claiming to be ADC national chairman?
Bala argues that after the former leadership resigned, the ADC constitution allows the deputy to take over when the chairmanship becomes vacant. Based on that interpretation, he says he automatically became the acting national chairman pending a national convention.
5. What is the ADC leadership crisis about?
The ADC leadership crisis is a power struggle between factions loyal to Nafiu Bala and David Mark over who legitimately controls the party’s national structure. The dispute involves questions about Bala’s alleged resignation, the legality of the rival executive, and how court rulings should be interpreted.
6. Why did INEC refuse to recognise Nafiu Bala?
INEC said it would not recognise any faction in the ADC for now, including Nafiu Bala’s camp, because the matter is still before the Federal High Court. The commission said it wants to avoid taking any step that could interfere with ongoing court proceedings.
7. Did INEC remove David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from the ADC portal?
Yes. INEC removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official ADC records/portal as part of its decision to suspend recognition of all factions pending the final court ruling.
8. What did Nyesom Wike say about Nafiu Bala?
Nyesom Wike said that, in his personal opinion, INEC should have recognised Nafiu Bala Gombe as ADC national chairman based on the court judgment. However, he also noted that the party should be satisfied that INEC chose not to recognise any faction until the dispute is resolved.
9. What did the Court of Appeal rule in the ADC case?
According to reports, the Court of Appeal on March 12, 2026 dismissed David Mark’s jurisdictional challenge, describing it as incompetent and without merit. While that strengthened Bala’s position procedurally, it did not amount to a final judgment conclusively declaring him the recognised national chairman.
10. Can ADC still hold congresses or conventions now?
As of the latest reports, INEC says it will not monitor any ADC congresses or conventions organised by rival factions until the substantive case is resolved in court. That means any factional activity may proceed politically, but it would not have formal electoral commission backing for now.
11. Who is the real ADC chairman now?
There is no final legal or regulatory resolution yet. Nafiu Bala claims to be acting national chairman, while the rival camp disputes that. INEC has suspended recognition of all factions, so the question remains subject to the outcome of the pending court case.
12. Why does the Nafiu Bala story matter for the 2027 elections?
The story matters because party leadership determines who controls conventions, congresses, candidate nominations, and alliance negotiations. If the ADC remains locked in a legal dispute, it could affect the party’s preparedness and credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.