Leadership Crisis Deepens in African Democratic Congress as Gombe-Led Faction Issues Legal Ultimatum to Rival National Working Committee

The Nafiu Bala Gombe-led ADC faction issues a legal warning to the David Mark NWC over unauthorized use of party bank accounts and logos. Read the full update.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 8:44 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

Escalation of Intra-Party Legal Warfare

The internal struggle for control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reached a critical flashpoint as the Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Working Committee (NWC) led by Nafiu Bala Gombe launched a legal offensive against a rival faction. In a sternly worded statement released on Monday, March 16, 2026, the Gombe-led leadership warned the David Mark-led NWC to cease all representational activities. The factional leadership, which includes BoT Secretary Rufus Ikanmi, asserted that any continued unauthorized use of the party's intellectual property and institutional identity would result in immediate litigation.

Financial Institutions Put on High Alert

In a strategic move to paralyze the rival faction's operations, the Gombe leadership issued a formal notice to all Deposit Money Banks and financial institutions across Nigeria. The notice instructs these institutions to freeze all transactions related to the party’s accounts when initiated by the David Mark coalition. The statement categorized any unauthorized lending, withdrawals, or transfers as "financial crimes and economic sabotage," vowing to prosecute such actions under the full extent of Nigerian financial regulations and criminal law.

Membership Disputes and Procedural Challenges

The conflict has also taken a personal turn, specifically targeting an individual identified as Abdullahi within the rival coalition. The Gombe faction stated that if Abdullahi intends to be a legitimate member of the ADC, he must follow the constitutional procedure of registering at his political ward in Kwara State. This move highlights the faction's broader argument that the rival NWC lacks the fundamental grassroots legitimacy required to govern the party’s national affairs.