ADC chairmanship tussle escalates as Nafiu Bala denies resignation, alleges forgery

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified as a factional leader, Nafiu Bala, denied claims that he resigned from his position, insisting that a purported resignation letter attributed to him is fake.

In a video statement, Bala said the document claiming he stepped down as deputy national chairman on May 17, 2025, did not originate from him and bears a forged signature, maintaining that he remains the acting national chairman of the party.

“I wish to state that this paper did not come from me, and that is not my signature on it. The signature you see there was forged,” he said.

He explained that his emergence followed the resignation of the party’s former leadership, noting that at a meeting in July 2025, former national chairman Ralph Nwosu and other officials stepped down and asked him and others to manage party affairs pending a convention.

Bala argued that, in line with the party’s constitution, he assumed leadership after the vacancies and has now resumed as acting national chairman, adding that any genuine resignation from him would have been issued on his official letterhead.

The dispute over his alleged resignation has become a key issue in the ongoing ADC crisis, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s leadership.

Former Senate President David Mark, who is also involved in the tussle, has insisted that Bala resigned in May 2025 and that the decision was formally communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in August, questioning his move to seek recognition as chairman months later.

The disagreement has triggered a legal battle, with INEC withdrawing recognition of the party’s leadership, while a Court of Appeal ruling in March 2026 dismissed Mark’s challenge. The crisis is expected to persist pending a final judgment by the Federal High Court.