Nafiu Bala, the factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has confirmed he will attend the party’s unveiling of its interim leadership led by former Senate President David Mark, but insists the Mark-led team was imposed without genuine consensus.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Bala made it clear there was no prior agreement to install the new leadership during the July 2, 2025 meeting.
“The meeting was convened solely for the adoption of the ADC as a unified platform for coalition partners, not for the unveiling or imposition of new national leaders,” Bala said.
He accused certain forces within the opposition coalition of hijacking the process and unilaterally announcing the David Mark-led interim executive, describing it as an undemocratic move that undermines the spirit of the alliance.
The controversy highlights deepening cracks within the ADC as opposition parties intensify efforts to form a formidable coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. David Mark, a veteran politician and former Senate President, was announced as the interim national chairman at the July event, a move that was initially presented as a unifying step.
Bala’s position signals that the party remains divided, with rival factions still contesting control of the ADC’s structure and direction.
The development comes as Nigeria’s opposition continues to grapple with internal leadership battles and strategic realignments in a bid to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential poll.
