The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken another turn as factional National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has directed candidates nominated under his leadership to resume their campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bala issued the directive on Thursday, November 5, following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja which nullified the leadership of the party under former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led faction.
Speaking after the judgment, Bala insisted that candidates produced under his leadership remained the legitimate flag bearers of the ADC and should immediately return to political activities.
“I am issuing a directive to all our candidates: wherever you are, if we nominated you, continue your campaign. You are the legitimate candidate,” he declared.
He said his faction would resume campaign activities alongside its governorship candidates, including Professor Chris Uba, and other aspirants seeking elective positions across the country.
Bala also maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should recognise the candidate list submitted by his faction and disregard nominations produced under the leadership of Mark.
The factional chairman further ruled out immediate reconciliation with the opposing camp, insisting that Mark, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other members of the rival group must first comply with the party’s membership requirements.
He argued that those who had not fulfilled the party’s membership procedures could not claim leadership or determine its political direction.
The latest development follows a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit instituted by Bala, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC for the North-East.
The court nullified the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker leadership, the appointment of Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and other decisions taken under the disputed leadership, including the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its 2027 candidate.
The judgment also directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025, and subsequent actions arising from it.
Bala argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership.
However, the Mark-led faction has rejected the judgment and announced plans to challenge it through the appellate process. Atiku has also vowed to appeal and maintained that his campaign activities would continue.
The dispute has created fresh uncertainty over the ADC’s leadership, its presidential ticket and the status of candidates seeking to contest the 2027 elections under the party.
Although Bala is insisting that his faction’s candidates are the legitimate flag bearers, the question of which candidate list INEC will ultimately recognise remains subject to the legal and administrative consequences of the judgment and any subsequent court orders.
With both camps maintaining opposing positions, the ADC faces another critical test as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
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