Nafiu Bala accuses Kwankwaso of betraying north in 2023 election

Nafiu Bala Gombe, a factional chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of betraying northern interests during the 2023 presidential election by refusing to step down for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Bala alleged that Kwankwaso’s decision to contest the election under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) divided northern votes and contributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory.

He made the remarks amid the lingering leadership crisis in the ADC, where Bala and another faction led by former Senate President David Mark continue to lay claim to the party’s structure.

Speaking in an interview with Premier Radio 102.7 FM, Bala said Kwankwaso lacked the moral standing to speak on northern unity after the role he played in the last election.

“When the North actually needed your help, you betrayed it. You allowed yourselves to be used to destroy the region,” Bala said.

According to him, several northern stakeholders had urged Kwankwaso to withdraw his candidacy in favour of Atiku to avoid splitting northern votes.

“Instead, he joined a minor party knowing fully well he couldn’t even secure Kano with it, just to split the Northern vote and hand the victory to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.

Bala’s comments came in response to claims by Kwankwaso that he had invited him for talks aimed at resolving the ADC leadership dispute, but the meeting did not hold.