Mark-led ADC Unveils Evidence Against Bala’s Chairmanship Claim

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has defended the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as its National Chairman, insisting that Nafiu Bala Gombe has no constitutional or legal basis to lay claim to the position.

The party said Bala resigned from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in May 2025, formally relinquishing his position to pave the way for the coalition that subsequently adopted the ADC as its political platform.

In a document titled “The ADC Leadership Question: Fallacy vs Fact,” signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party outlined a series of events leading to the emergence of the Mark-led leadership, arguing that the transition was initiated and approved by the party’s former leadership.

According to the document, the Nwosu-led NWC waived the party’s two-year membership requirement on March 27, 2025, to accommodate members of the opposition coalition.

It added that at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) on May 15, 2025, the decision that all existing party executives would resign to pave the way for the coalition was communicated.

The party maintained that Bala participated in the process, including signing the attendance register at the March meeting and attending the May NEC meeting.

It further claimed that Bala signed a resignation letter dated May 17, 2025, with effect from May 26, 2025, stating that his decision was to ensure a smooth and effective coalition arrangement.

The ADC said it subsequently notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his resignation through a letter dated July 21, 2025, which the commission received on August 12 and certified on October 10, 2025.

The party also dismissed allegations that the emergence of Mark amounted to a hostile takeover, arguing that the former leadership publicly announced its decision to step aside at the coalition’s adoption of the ADC on July 2, 2025.

It said Bala himself publicly welcomed Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary in a social media post on July 3, 2025.

The party further disclosed that Bala attended a meeting of former NWC members at Mark’s residence on July 11, 2025, where they reportedly pledged loyalty to the new leadership.

On July 29, 2025, the ADC said its 99th NEC meeting, monitored by a seven-member INEC delegation, dissolved the NWC led by Ralph Nwosu and ratified the Mark-led leadership.

It maintained that Bala was present at the meeting, where his name appeared as number 53 on the attendance register.

The party also rejected the argument that Bala automatically became National Chairman following Nwosu’s departure, explaining that he was one of six Deputy National Chairmen and was not the first in the order of precedence.

According to the ADC, Dr Ganiyu Ajadi, who held the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) position, was the first deputy, while Bala occupied the Governance and Legislation portfolio.

Citing Article 17(4) of its constitution, the party argued that a vacancy in the office of National Chairman requires the appropriate executive committee to appoint a replacement from the zone of the former officeholder.

It insisted that no meeting, resolution or official record had ever been produced to establish that Bala was appointed National Chairman.

On the legal disputes surrounding the leadership, the ADC recalled that Bala instituted his suit on September 2, 2025, more than three months after his resignation allegedly took effect.

It said the Court of Appeal, on March 12, 2026, ordered that the status quo ante bellum be maintained pending the determination of the substantive dispute, prompting INEC to suspend recognition of the Mark-led leadership.

However, the party said the Supreme Court unanimously set aside the status quo order on April 30, 2026, after which INEC restored the Mark-led national officers on its portal.

The ADC also cited a July 2, 2026, judgment by Justice Liman, which upheld the Mark-led leadership and directed INEC to recognise it.

It, however, acknowledged the November 5, 2026, judgment by Justice Lifu in favour of Bala, but maintained that the ruling did not conclusively settle the leadership dispute.

The party disclosed that it had appealed the judgment and filed a motion for stay of execution.

Abdullahi argued that the existence of a judgment by a court of coordinate jurisdiction in favour of the Mark-led leadership raised further legal questions about the latest ruling.

The party said its position was supported by its constitution, documentary records and the earlier judgment recognising the Mark-led leadership.

It challenged Bala to identify the meeting at which he was allegedly elected National Chairman, the persons who convened and attended the meeting, the resolution ratifying his appointment and the National Secretary who serves under his leadership.

The ADC insisted that the only leadership ratified by its NEC was the Mark-led national executive, comprising David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.