Bala-led ADC Faction Dismisses David Mark’s "Suya Convention" as Illegal and Treasonable

Nafiu Bala and Leke Abejide dismiss the David Mark-led ADC convention as an illegal "Suya" gathering that violates the Electoral Act and court orders.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 11:26 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEADERSHIP News

A Defiant Rejection of the Mark Faction's Convention

The Nafiu Bala-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing critique of the rival David Mark camp, describing their recent gathering as a "Suya" national convention. At a joint press conference in Abuja on Friday, Nafiu Bala and National Leader Hon. Leke Abejide asserted that the convention—held on April 14—was a flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026. The Bala camp maintains that the event was organized in direct defiance of standing orders from both the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending judicial determination.

Purported Expulsions Labeled as "Contempt of Court"

The David Mark-led faction had previously announced the expulsion of Bala and Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives representing Yagba Federal Constituency. Abejide dismissed the move as a "laughable phenomenon," arguing that an illegal group lacks the authority to suspend legitimate party leaders. He further characterized the actions of the Mark camp as treasonable and a direct affront to the judiciary. Abejide noted that his legal team has been briefed to initiate litigation against the purported suspension, describing it as a "visitation of hostility" while his leadership case is still active in court.

The Absence of INEC and Questions of Legitimacy

Nafiu Bala emphasized that the legitimacy of the Mark faction’s convention is further compromised by the noticeable absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to Bala, the lack of official monitoring by the electoral umpire indicates that the proceedings were not recognized and cannot survive judicial scrutiny. He argued that any actions taken in disregard of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, are legally void. Bala maintained that the coalition group led by Mark are not even valid members of the ADC, as their entry into the party allegedly violated the ADC Constitution.