By Jeremy Fregene
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has plunged into a deepening leadership crisis after its non-resigned National Executive Committee (NEC) rejected the appointment of former Senate President David Mark and the interim leadership recently announced for the party.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting in Abuja yesterday, the old NEC declared the appointments “unconstitutional, fraudulent, and unacceptable,” insisting that the party’s only legitimate Acting National Chairman remains Nafiu Bala, the former Deputy National Chairman.
The committee, still loyal to outgoing National Chairman Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, accused unnamed political actors of plotting to hijack the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 elections. It alleged that attempts to install parallel leadership were designed to weaken the ADC and destabilise its growing opposition coalition.
“We reject in totality any purported leadership arrangement that does not emanate from the constitutionally recognised organs of our party,” the NEC said. “The so-called appointment of David Mark has no basis in our constitution, was never ratified by the NEC, and will not be recognised.”
The NEC also reaffirmed Bala’s authority, dismissing a May 18, 2025 “resignation letter” attributed to him as fake, pointing out that it lacked an official ADC letterhead and contradicted Nwosu’s public statement of July 2. The faction vowed to seek formal recognition of Bala’s leadership from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to challenge any “counterfeit documents” in court.
Meanwhile, Bala pledged to steer the party with “integrity, wisdom, and dedication,” outlining plans to strengthen its structures, enhance internal democracy, and build alliances capable of delivering “a better Nigeria.” He said the NEC would prepare for a national convention within 90 days to resolve outstanding disputes and unify members.
The rift now threatens to fracture the ADC’s opposition coalition, which has received heavyweight politicians such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rauf Aregbesola. Party insiders warn that if the leadership battle drags on, it could derail the coalition’s momentum and hand the ruling APC a major political advantage.
With both camps digging in, the ADC faces the toughest internal test in its history, one that could decide whether it emerges as a united opposition force or becomes another casualty of Nigeria’s bruising political turf wars.