Nafiu Bala Denounces Irregular Leadership Appointments as African Democratic Congress Crisis Triggers INEC Intervention

Nafiu Bala labels David Mark’s ADC leadership appointment as unconstitutional, as INEC derecognizes both party factions following a court ruling.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 5:56 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Legit.ng

The Unforeseen Leadership Transition in Abuja

Nafiu Bala, a prominent figure in the ongoing African Democratic Congress leadership struggle, has provided a firsthand account of the July 2025 meeting that split the party into competing factions. According to Bala, the gathering at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre was never intended to serve as an unveiling for new leadership. He described the moment Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, the outgoing National Chairman, resigned and unilaterally named Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as acting successors as a shocking departure from the event's original purpose.

Constitutional Breaches and Procedural Failures

The core of Bala’s argument rests on the specific articles of the 2022 African Democratic Congress Constitution. He maintained that the actions taken by the former chairman directly contradicted Articles 8(2) and 9(4), which do not grant a departing official the authority to handpick replacements. Bala emphasized that for a leadership change to be valid, it must follow a defined internal process involving the National Working Committee, a step he claims was entirely bypassed during the July assembly.

Lack of Consensus Among Party Stakeholders

Addressing viral footage that showed him in attendance alongside notable figures like Kenneth Okonkwo, Bala clarified that his physical presence did not constitute an endorsement of the new administration. He noted that several members of the National Working Committee were taken aback by the sudden appointments, as no prior discussions or formal votes had taken place. The subsequent resignation of the national secretary, Sa’id Baba Abdullahi, further complicated the situation, leaving the party’s governing body in a state of confusion.