Thirteen Steps We Took Before Taking Over ADC – David Mark Group

• Says Bala Gombe’s signature not forged, court hears suit April 14
• Our party won’t field candidates above 55 years – Gombe

Members of the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Party have explained in detail the steps they took to take over the national leadership of the party

In a document prepared by the embattled leadership and shared among members of its top executives, it also refuted the allegation that the signature of the contending national chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, was forged.

The document was signed by the party’s national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

The document, obtained exclusively by LEADERSHIP Weekend, was also sent to senior party members, including its state chairmen.

In it, the party said it provided a chronological account of events that led to the current situation threatening its survival, while outlining the implications for the nation’s democratic process.

It said Nafiu Bala Gombe, who served as ADC deputy national chairman (Governance and Legislation), resigned his position on 17 May 2025, and that under the leadership of Ralph Nwosu, it was resolved to hand over to a caretaker committee as part of a broader transition process, with Bala in attendance.

It also stated that the ADC National Executive Committee, led by Ralph Nwosu, held a meeting on 15 May 2025, to communicate the decision to all members of the executive to resign to allow the new coalition to come in, with Nafiu Bala Gombe present, and he subsequently resigned.

The party disclosed that at a meeting held on 27 March 2025, it was resolved to waive the constitutional requirement of two years’ membership as a preliminary condition for the admission of new members into the National Working Committee, with Nafiu Bala Gombe in attendance.

“The old National Working Committee also met on 2 July 2025 to formally resolve to hand over to a caretaker committee to be led by Senator David Mark, on July 11th. The old NWC met at his residence in Abuja, along with Nafiu Bala Gombe, to pledge their loyalty to the incoming leadership under the former Senate President David Mark,” part of the document read.

The party further revealed that it wrote on 21 July that same year to formally inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the resignation of Nafiu Bala Gombe as deputy national chairman (Government and Legislation).

It added that INEC acknowledged receipt, as evidenced in the certified true copy signed by one Gyang D. Dung on 10 October.

It was further revealed that, following negotiations with the leadership of the ADC, all executive members of the party resigned their positions at once to enable the caretaker leadership to take over in the interim period.

The decision was duly communicated to INEC on 12 August 2025, with Nafiu Bala Gombe in attendance, and he actively participated in the deliberations and the resolution.

It also added that, in furtherance of the party’s determination to strengthen its structure, the National Executive Committee meeting of the party under the leadership of Ralph Nwosu was convened, with INEC in attendance to monitor the proceedings that led to the dissolution of the National Working Committee led by Nwosu and the ratification of a caretaker committee led by Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The party further stated that on September 2, 2025, despite his resignation, Nafiu Bala Gombe approached the courts four months after his exit from office and two months after participating in the NEC meeting that ratified the caretaker leadership of Senator David Mark, asking to be returned as national chairman of the party.

“INEC was also aware of his resignation before the formation of the caretaker committee of the party, and at the time Nafiu Bala Gombe approached the courts, the previous leadership, of which he was a member, had already stepped aside, while the National Executive Council had also been dissolved, with a caretaker now in place,” it also read in parts.

The party equally disclosed that Nafiu Bala Gombe had participated in installing the David Mark leadership and had endorsed it.

It was further stated that INEC erred in de-recognising the leadership under David Mark, because the court ruling relied upon was mischievously interpreted to suit a certain interest, since maintaining the “status quo,” by implication, is to stand by the existing structure under David Mark.

The party, which denied forging Nafiu Bala’s signature, claimed that the multiple documents associated with party activities, including attendance sheets from National Executive Council and National Working Committee meetings containing signatures attributed to Nafiu Bala Gombe, were consistent in all material respects.

“A comparative review of the signatures shows a clear and consistent pattern, aligning with the signature appended to his resignation letter dated 17 May 2025. There are no obvious material deviations that would typically suggest forgery,” the statement added.

It also stated that the consistency across independent documents further strengthens the position that the resignation letter reflects his authentic signature.

The party pointed to Nafiu Bala Gombe’s spelling of the word ‘chairman’ as ‘chiarman’ in his resignation letter, saying it was not an isolated occurrence in his usage.

“The same spelling pattern appears in other materials attributed to Nafiu Bala Gombe. His own public communications, including  Facebook posts, show similar inconsistencies in the spelling of official titles.

“This repetition suggests a personal writing pattern rather than external fabrications,” the document further revealed.

It said that, beyond documentary evidence, Nafiu Bala Gombe’s public statements and actions following the alleged resignation period further complicate the forgery narrative being advanced.

The party alleged that he continued to publicly identify with the leadership and the party structure, acknowledged developments in the party, participated in meetings, and engaged in many other related activities.

The party said that forgery is a criminal offence under Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act, but there has been no reported petition against the party to law enforcement authorities, nor has Nafiu Bala Gombe initiated any criminal investigation.

Nafiu Bala Gombe, during a protest at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday in Abuja, said, “We are here to urge INEC to follow due process.

“You cannot come to the ADC through the window and expect to overturn the owners of the party. As democrats, we do not want moneybags to come and destroy democracy.

“The ADC belongs to all Nigerians, from the wards to the national level, and we insist that the commission recognises the legitimate leadership based on constitutional provisions, not external influence.”

2027: ADC won’t field candidates above 55 years – Gombe

Meanwhile, the self-acclaimed national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, has declared that the party will not field any candidate for elective office above the age of 55 in the 2027 general election.

Gombe, who disclosed this during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, stressed that the decision was aimed at creating space for younger Nigerians to take up leadership roles.

“All the new illegal members are 88, 75, and 90 years of age. They should allow us youths to step in and lead. My focus is to ensure that no one over the age of 55 is a candidate for the ADC. It is high time the youths are given a chance,” he said.

The ADC has been enmeshed in a leadership dispute, with factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership, a situation that has further deepened internal divisions following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘s de-recognition of neither faction.

Reacting to allegations that he was being used by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections, Gombe dismissed the claims as unfounded.

“These people, judging by their history in their former political parties, are used to causing conflicts and strife. They are trying to do the same thing in the ADC,” he stated.

On his absence at a reconciliation meeting reportedly convened by former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Gombe said he had more pressing commitments to attend to and questioned the propriety of the invitation.

“We are planning for the 2027 elections and have a lot of engagements. I am not someone who has free time to attend any meeting called in someone’s parlour. Besides, he is not a legitimate member of our party, so I cannot go to his house to discuss ADC matters,” he said.

Bala insisted that resolving the party’s crisis lies in adherence to the party’s constitution, urging new entrants to follow due process.

“The only way forward is for these illegitimate newcomers to go back, study our constitution, and follow the proper process of joining the party,” he added.

He also called on aggrieved members to accept his leadership, despite concerns over his age.

“They have made digs about my age previously. Babachir (Lawal) even said they won’t follow me because I am young and not from an influential home,” Gombe revealed.

“I call on those who think they cannot follow my leadership because I am young and not from an influential background to understand that leadership comes from God. They should fall in line, and I will ensure justice is done,” Gombe said.