The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has worsened, as the faction led by David Mark announced the expulsion of Nafiu Bala over alleged anti-party activities.
Alongside Bala, several other members were also expelled from the party. They include Leke Abejide, a serving member of the House of Representatives, as well as Kingsley Temitope, Obinna Norman, Kennedy Odiong, and Stella Chukwuma.
The decision was taken during the party’s national convention held in Abuja. During the meeting, Binos Yaroe, the senator representing Adamawa South, moved a motion calling for their expulsion. The motion was quickly supported and approved by party delegates through a voice vote.
Addressing party members at the convention, the organising secretary, Chinedu Idigo, accused the affected individuals of working against the unity and stability of the party. He said their actions had created serious divisions within the ADC and weakened its structure across different levels.
According to him, the expelled members deliberately caused confusion among party supporters, the general public, and even regulatory authorities. He added that their actions led to the creation of factions within the party, which has further deepened the ongoing leadership crisis.
Idigo also revealed that the party leadership had earlier given the affected members enough time to correct their actions and align with party principles. However, he said they failed to comply, leaving the leadership with no option but to take disciplinary action against them.
The crisis within the ADC dates back to July 2025, when a coalition of opposition figures took control of the party’s leadership. Since then, the party has been divided into rival factions, each laying claim to legitimacy.
Nafiu Bala has consistently challenged the authority of the Mark-led leadership, insisting that David Mark was not properly appointed as national chairman. This disagreement has led to multiple legal battles and political confrontations within the party.
In a major development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 1 withdrew its recognition of the Mark-led faction. The decision followed an interim ruling by the court of appeal, which further complicated the leadership dispute.
Despite this setback, the Mark-led group has continued to assert its authority and push ahead with party activities, including the recent convention where the expulsions were announced.
The legal battle over the party’s leadership is far from over. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 22 to hear an appeal filed by Mark. The appeal seeks to challenge a suit earlier filed by Bala, which questions the legitimacy of Mark’s leadership.
Political observers say the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling will be crucial in determining the future direction of the ADC, especially as political alignments begin ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With tensions still high and factions refusing to back down, the ADC appears set for more internal struggles in the coming months.
