…“The ADC has exposed a desperate plot allegedly orchestrated by powerful APC figures to pressure INEC into recognising Nafiu Bala as the party’s National Chairman,”
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has claimed it uncovered an alleged scheme aimed at destabilising the party to ensure President Bola Tinubu becomes the sole presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the African Democratic Congress said certain influential figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) were allegedly attempting to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress.
The party described the move as part of a broader plot by the APC to undermine the ADC, seize control of its leadership, and secure an unchallenged path for President Tinubu in the upcoming election. It pledged to use all lawful means to resist these alleged efforts by anti-democratic forces within the ruling party, warning that such actions threaten competitive democracy in Nigeria.
The African Democratic Congress noted that Senator David Mark emerged as national chairman in July 2025 following a combined meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), witnessed by INEC officials. Soon after, Gombe began claiming the party’s leadership, despite there being no legal grounds for such claims.
“The ADC has exposed a desperate plot allegedly orchestrated by powerful APC figures to pressure INEC into recognising Nafiu Bala as the party’s National Chairman,” the statement said.
According to the party, the goal of the alleged plot is to sow confusion within the ADC, promote illegitimate leadership claims, and weaken the party as the only credible opposition, effectively leaving Nigerians with no real alternative in the next general election.
The ADC stressed that the leadership transition to the coalition led by Senator Mark and Rauf Aregbesola in July 2025 was formally recognised by INEC in September 2025. Moreover, a Federal High Court recently dismissed a challenge to Mark’s leadership, affirming a Supreme Court ruling that party leadership disputes are internal matters.
The party condemned what it described as a desperate attempt by anti-democratic forces to impose expelled individuals on the ADC or manipulate its structures through external pressure on judges and electoral officials. “Nigeria’s democracy cannot flourish if the ruling party seeks to capture or infiltrate opposition parties for political convenience. Such actions threaten democratic pluralism and Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely organise and support credible political alternatives,” the ADC stated.
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