ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens as Nafiu Bala Declares Himself National Chairman

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The leadership tussle in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified on Wednesday after Nafiu Bala announced himself as the party’s new National Chairman.

Bala, who resumed office in Abuja, told journalists that he is the authentic National Chairman of the party, citing both the Electoral Act and the ADC constitution as backing for his claim.

According to him, Ralph Nwosu’s resignation as chairman following the adoption of ADC by an opposition coalition automatically made him the rightful successor in line with party rules.

“Once our party’s former National Chairman voluntarily stepped down, the constitution and the Electoral Act made it clear that the Deputy National Chairman assumes leadership,” Bala stated. “I now resume office as the authentic National Chairman of our great party, the African Democratic Congress.”

The development contradicts the earlier appointment of David Mark as interim chairman after Nwosu’s exit. Bala, however, accused coalition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, of hijacking the ADC’s structure.

The crisis has further deepened divisions within the party as both factions continue to lay claim to its leadership.