Nafiu Bala, who is the acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, said on Monday that he was misled into attending a meeting where the party’s leadership was changed, insisting he did not support the emergence of David Mark.
He made this known during an interview with AIT News while reacting to reports that linked him to the leadership handover that brought in Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as interim leaders of the party. Bala explained that the event, which took place in July 2025, was presented to him as a simple gathering to welcome new coalition members into the party.
According to him, he only realised the true purpose of the meeting after it had started, when former chairman Ralph Nwosu announced his resignation and introduced a new leadership team. Bala said he had no prior knowledge of the arrangement and did not agree to it at any point.
He added that after the event, he began consultations with other party members across the country before taking further steps. Following those discussions, he wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission, presenting himself as the acting National Chairman based on his previous role as deputy chairman and the backing of some members of the party’s leadership bodies.
Bala also disclosed that INEC later informed him that he had already been recorded as having resigned from his former position, a development he described as part of the confusion surrounding the leadership issue. He said legal action was later taken after consultations with party stakeholders.
The crisis within the ADC has continued to grow, with different groups laying claim to the party’s leadership. At the moment, factions linked to David Mark, Nafiu Bala, and former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu are all contesting control of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The situation has also drawn the attention of INEC, which has stated that it will not recognise any leadership or monitor party activities until the matter is resolved by the Federal High Court. Meanwhile, members of the Mark group have accused the ruling party and the Presidency of supporting rival factions, an allegation that has been rejected by those involved.