Abuja, Nigeria – In a sharply worded press conference held on Thursday in the nation’s capital, the factional Board of Trustees (BoT) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aligned with the party’s embattled factional National Chairman, Mr Nafiu Bala, has categorically dismissed the coalition recently inaugurated under the leadership of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, describing it as an “illegal and unacceptable arrangement” orchestrated by a rival leadership.
The declaration was made by the faction’s Board of Trustees Secretary, Mr Rufus Ekenmi, who addressed journalists at a well-attended briefing. Ekenmi did not mince words as he accused certain individuals of infiltrating the party under the pretext of forming a coalition, warning that such actions were designed to “contaminate the ADC with a spirit of political indiscipline.”
“What we are witnessing is nothing short of a calculated attempt by outsiders and disgruntled elements to hijack the soul of our great party,” Ekenmi stated. “These individuals sneaked into the ADC under the guise of a coalition, but their real intention is to sow seeds of chaos and undermine the legitimate structures that members have labored to build over the years.”
The press conference marks the latest escalation in the protracted leadership crisis that has fractured the African Democratic Congress into at least two warring camps. While one faction recognizes Mr Nafiu Bala as the authentic National Chairman, the opposing side has thrown its weight behind a coalition of prominent political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi, ex-Transportation Minister Mr Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, erstwhile Governor of Osun State Mr Rauf Aregbesola, immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation Mr Abubakar Malami, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Babachir Lawal, ex-Governors Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State and Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, among several others. The coalition, which was formally unveiled last week, has positioned itself as a third-force movement aimed at rescuing Nigeria’s democracy and providing a credible alternative platform ahead of future elections.
In a decisive move intended to assert control and enforce party discipline, the Nafiu Bala-led BoT announced that it had granted full authorization to the factional National Chairman to immediately activate the party’s disciplinary committee. The committee, according to Ekenmi, has been empowered to investigate and sanction any ADC member found to be collaborating with the David Mark coalition or maintaining active political engagements with any of the high-profile figures associated with the group.
“We have directed the National Chairman to set up and activate the disciplinary committee without further delay,” Ekenmi emphasized. “Any member—regardless of status or previous contributions—who is discovered to be working with this illegal coalition or fraternizing with Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, Abubakar Malami, Babachir Lawal, Emeka Ihedioha, Liyel Imoke, or any of their allies will face the full wrath of the party’s disciplinary process. The ADC will not be turned into a playground for political opportunists.”
Responding to the vote of confidence reposed in him by the factional Board of Trustees, Mr Nafiu Bala expressed profound gratitude and pledged unwavering commitment to the provisions of the party’s constitution. Speaking shortly after Ekenmi’s address, Bala assured members that his leadership would remain fair, firm, transparent, and devoid of favoritism.
“I am humbled by the trust placed in me by the Board of Trustees and the overwhelming majority of our members across the country,” Bala said. “I want to assure every bona fide member of the African Democratic Congress that this leadership will continue to uphold the constitution of our party without fear or favor. We will not allow a few ambitious individuals to drag the ADC into the mud.”
The factional chairman went on to level serious accusations against the coalition, alleging that its members had violated the party’s rules by establishing and operating from what he termed a “parallel headquarters.” He insisted that the ADC constitution is explicit on the privileges accorded to members, stressing that only duly registered members in good standing are entitled to access official party premises or exercise any rights within the organization.
“I must state unequivocally that our party constitution clearly provides that only registered members in good standing are entitled to party privileges, including access to official premises,” Bala declared. “Any group operating from a so-called parallel secretariat is acting in clear breach of our rules and has no legitimacy whatsoever within the African Democratic Congress.”
The public spat comes at a time when Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing increased realignment of forces ahead of the 2027 general elections. Observers note that the David Mark-led coalition had generated considerable excitement among opposition circles, with many seeing it as a potential platform to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, the fierce resistance from the Nafiu Bala faction has thrown a spanner in the works, raising fresh questions about the coalition’s ability to function as a unified entity under the ADC banner.
As the internal crisis deepens, stakeholders within the party are calling for urgent intervention by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and, if necessary, the courts to determine which faction represents the authentic leadership of the African Democratic Congress. Until such clarity emerges, the infighting is likely to continue undermining the party’s credibility and its ambition to present itself as a viable third force in Nigerian politics.
For now, the lines have been drawn: one side views the coalition as a welcome breath of fresh air, while the other sees it as an existential threat that must be resisted at all costs. The coming weeks and months will reveal whether the ADC can survive this latest storm or whether it will splinter irreparably under the weight of its own contradictions.
