Senator Abbo Reveals Cause Of ADC Leadership Crisis, Fingers ‘Powerful Minister’ Behind INEC’s Controversial Action

Former federal lawmaker, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, has revealed the genesis of the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and recent actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he said were orchestrated by a “very powerful minister” from the South-South, with backing from other influential figures.

Abbo claimed that within the Presidential Villa, many are now attributing the ADC crisis to the unnamed minister, suggesting he orchestrated it in a bid to win favour from President Bola Tinubu.

Abbo, who once represented Adamawa North senatoril district in the Senate, made the revelation in a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday morning.

“I am also aware that the current onslaught from INEC on ADC was engineered by a very powerful minister from the South-South with the support of few others,” he said “In fact, in the Villa today, everyone is claiming that he is responsible for the crises in the ADC just to curry favour from the President,” he further wrote.

Abbo traced the roots of the ADC leadership crisis to internal disagreements following the emergence of a new national leadership led by former Senate President, David Mark.

Providing a detailed account, the former lawmaker said the crisis began after Nafiu Bala Gombe and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) resigned to pave the way for a new leadership structure.

“The crises rocking the ADC in Nigeria started after my brother from Gombe, Nafiu Bala, resigned from office as Deputy National Chairman together with the entire National Working Committee to pave way for the Senator David Mark-led NWC to take over,” Abbo stated.

According to him, the transition was based on a negotiated power-sharing arrangement with legacy party members, which included zoning key positions across geopolitical regions.

“The agreement made with the legacy party was to cede certain positions to them from each geopolitical zone so that they can be part of the larger ADC,” Abbo said.

He disclosed that under the arrangement, Nafiu Bala was to be compensated with the position of National Vice Chairman (North-East) —a role Abbo described as lower than Bala’s previous office.

“In the North, it was agreed that the position of the National Vice Chairman North-East will be given to Nafiu Bala, a lesser position from his former position as Deputy National Chairman,” he added.

Abbo, however, alleged that the agreement was later abandoned by the new Mark-led leadership.

“During the formation of the David Mark-led NWC, the new leadership reneged on the earlier agreement… and instead installed Babachir David Lawal in the position agreed upon,” he claimed.

He further quoted Lawal as questioning Bala’s suitability for the role, saying: “How can Nafiu Bala, a small boy, become a National Vice Chairman in a zone that has the former Vice President and former SGF?”

Abbo said Bala rejected an alternative, lower position offered to him and subsequently became aggrieved.

“Nafiu Bala felt belittled and insulted… and he has now belittled all of us,” he stated.

The former Senator also made far-reaching allegations, claiming that external political actors were involved in escalating the crisis within the party.

“I am fully aware that a powerful serving governor from the South-East and a former minister from the North-West… assembled lawyers to help take the case to court,” he said.

He further alleged that pressure from top government officials influenced recent actions against the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“I am also aware that the current onslaught from INEC on ADC was engineered by a very powerful minister from the South-South with the support of a few others,” Abbo claimed, without naming those involved.

“In fact, in the Villa today, everyone is claiming that he (the Minister) is responsible for the crises in the ADC just to curry favour from the President,” he added.

Despite withholding specific names, Abbo hinted at future disclosures.

“One day those names will be captured in one chapter of my autobiography,” he wrote.

He also announced plans to further address the issue publicly.

“I will be live tomorrow by 2pm to address the illegality of INEC’s actions on ADC and the crises rocking the Adamawa chapter… I know too much on this matter. I will be sincere, honest, bold and truthful,” he said.

The ADC leadership crisis intensified after INEC withdrew recognition of David Mark as National Chairman, along with National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.

The commission said its action was based on a court order directing it to maintain the status quo a team bellum pending the determination of a suit filed by the factional chairman, Nafiu Bala, challenging the legality of Mark’s leadership.