Nafiu Bala, the factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has confirmed his attendance at the party’s unveiling of the interim leadership led by Senator David Mark in July 2025, after viral videos surfaced showing him seated alongside other party stakeholders at the event. However, Bala insists he did not endorse the appointments, claims he was “taken aback” by the developments, says there was no formal vote or consensus, and maintains that he is the rightful acting national chairman of the ADC under the party’s constitution.
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The controversy was triggered by two viral videos obtained and published by TheCable, which revealed that Nafiu Bala was present at the ADC’s unveiling of the David Mark-led leadership in July 2025. The first video, dated July 2, 2025, was posted by Symfoni on YouTube. A second viral video, published on Monday, corroborated his presence at the meeting.
The footage, now circulating widely on social media, shows Bala seated in the same row as Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party, alongside other party stakeholders at the ceremony held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. verified the video through multiple party stakeholders who attended the event.
At the event, Lauretta Onochie, former presidential aide, introduced Bala as the ADC Deputy National Chairman (Intergovernmental Affairs).
The videos were significant because Bala has been locked in a bitter leadership dispute with the Mark-led group, claiming to be the legitimate chairman of the ADC. His visible presence at the very event where Mark’s leadership was inaugurated — apparently without public objection at the time — raised immediate questions about the sincerity of his current legal challenge.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bala confirmed his attendance but offered a detailed account of what he says actually happened at the meeting — one that paints a very different picture from what the videos appear to show.
Bala said the meeting, which held on July 2, 2025, was convened specifically for the adoption of ADC as a unified platform for coalition partners, not to unveil new party leaders. He said what happened next was unexpected.
“Contrary to expectations, the event took an unexpected turn when Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, the then National Chairman, was given the floor to deliver his welcoming address. In a shocking move, he announced his resignation as National Chairman, proceeded to issue a membership card to Sen. David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, and declared them Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.”
Bala claimed that Nwosu’s actions were in clear violation of Articles 8(2) and 9(4) of the ADC Constitution (2022, as amended). He argued that the party’s constitution does not empower an outgoing chairman to appoint a successor, and that the process for replacing the national chairman is explicitly outlined in the constitution.
“I was present at the meeting and can attest that the gathering was not intended for the unveiling of Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders. My attendance at the meeting and previous engagements with coalition partners from April 2024 to July 2025 do not imply endorsement of the irregular appointments.”
He insisted that there was no formal vote or consensus on the appointments, and that several National Working Committee members, including himself, were taken aback by the developments.
“There was no formal vote or consensus on the appointments, and several National Working Committee members, including myself, were taken aback by the developments.”
Bala added that following Nwosu’s announcement, Sa’id Baba Abdullahi, the then national secretary of the party, also resigned, citing what Bala described as “unclear circumstances.” He claimed that none of the NWC members were privy to the situation, and that neither Nwosu nor Abdullahi had discussed the matter with them prior to the meeting.
“None of the NWC members were privy to the situation, and neither Nwosu nor Abdullahi had discussed the matter with us prior to the meeting.”
Bala’s account, if accurate, would mean that the entire leadership transition at the July 2, 2025 meeting was orchestrated by Nwosu and Abdullahi acting on their own, without the knowledge or consent of the party’s National Working Committee. However, critics point out that Bala did not publicly object at the time, did not walk out of the meeting, and did not immediately challenge the appointments — actions they say would have been expected if he was genuinely “taken aback.”
Bala went further, making a direct constitutional claim to the chairmanship of the ADC. He argued that since Ralph Nwosu resigned as national chairman, he, Nafiu Bala, as the deputy national chairman, is constitutionally the acting national chairman from that very day.
“Since Ralph Nwosu resigned, Nafiu Bala as a deputy national chairman, constitutionally, is supposed to be the acting national chairman, from that very day, up to today.”
He insisted that the issue is not personal animosity towards David Mark or the coalition partners, but rather about constitutional process and the proper procedures for entering the party.
“We are not saying we don’t like David Mark. We are not saying we are not going to work with them. But we are telling them, the process, the way they entered the party, is faulty.”
In an interview with Daily Trust, Bala forcefully denied allegations that his faction is being sponsored or influenced by elements within the ruling APC to derail the ADC’s coalition project. He turned the accusation back on the Mark-led group, arguing that they, not he, are the outsiders.
“This is a baseless allegation. How can I be accused of that? You came to my party and accused me of being sponsored to destroy it. I am a card-carrying member of the ADC, and I have been in the party for about 10 years now. And now you just come in and want to push me out?”
“In fact, they are not even in the right position to make such allegations because, as far as the party’s constitution is concerned, they are not members. They came to destroy our party and are still complaining that I am the one being sponsored to destroy my own party? This is a baseless and unfounded allegation.”
Bala said what he wants to achieve is for the constitution of the African Democratic Congress to be respected by people who wish to join the party.
Daily Trust reported that Nafiu Bala was born in Nassarawo Ward in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State approximately 35 years ago. Details about his early childhood and education remain limited, but neighbours in the Nassarawo area of Gombe metropolis confirmed that Bala attended Nassarawo Primary and Junior Secondary School, and later proceeded to the Government Day Technical College (Vocational), Gombe, where he obtained his Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) in 2010.
He later attended AD Rufai College for Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, Bauchi State, where he obtained a Diploma in Law in 2012. He worked mostly as a volunteer in private law firms in Gombe before joining partisan politics.
Bala’s political journey began as a member of the defunct Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), a party formed by former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa. After a brief stint, he moved to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), before eventually joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Under the ADC, Bala contested for the governorship seat of Gombe State in the 2023 general elections, losing to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of the APC. He subsequently challenged the outcome from the election petition tribunal all the way to the Supreme Court, where he eventually lost. A party stalwart in Gombe, Mustapha Hadi, told Daily Trust that Bala’s prolonged legal battles over the election outcome brought him national attention and eventually positioned him within the national structure of the ADC.
A relative of Bala, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, described him as coming from a very humble background and noted a dramatic change in his lifestyle in recent times.
“I have known Nafiu Bala since his early childhood. He comes from a very humble background. He joined politics some years back. But he was not a bigtime politician. However, after the 2023 elections he started acting big and even relocated his wife to Kaduna, while he is staying in Abuja.”
“Also, during the recent Sallah celebration, Bala came to Gombe with a large convoy of SUVs, accompanied by security escorts and other paraphernalia.”
The observations about Bala’s changed lifestyle have added fuel to the allegations of external sponsorship, though Bala has categorically denied receiving any financial support from the APC or any other external actor. The contrast between his described humble origins, his career as a volunteer in law firms, and his current lifestyle — including Abuja residence, wife relocated to Kaduna, and SUV convoys — remains a point of public curiosity and speculation.
Bala’s statement came against the backdrop of a deepening crisis within the ADC. Since July 2025, when the opposition coalition assumed leadership of the party, the ADC has been grappling with internal disputes, with Bala and the Mark-led group each claiming to be the legitimate leadership.
The crisis culminated in protracted legal disputes, which prompted INEC to de-recognise both factions on Wednesday, citing the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal. In a statement signed by Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, the commission said it would refrain from engaging either faction and would not attend meetings, congresses, or conventions of either group pending the determination of a case before the Federal High Court.
The ADC is expected to return to the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 7, 2026, where its legal team will seek the summary dismissal of Bala’s suit. The outcome of that hearing could determine the future of the ADC as a viable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
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