The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a sharper political turn, with the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleging that embattled factional figure, Nafiu Bala, was influenced by external forces after allegedly receiving inducements beyond what the party could offer.
Abdullahi made the allegation on Monday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, insisting that Bala’s recent actions were not driven by internal disagreements but by what he described as external political interests.
According to him, the party made efforts to retain and accommodate Bala, but those moves failed after the latter allegedly secured “a better deal” elsewhere.
“We made efforts to pacify him, we approached him, we tried to find something for him to do within the party, but at that point he had already approached people within government who were willing to use him, and we could not match what they were offering him,” Abdullahi said.
He further alleged that Bala’s sudden change in lifestyle raised questions, claiming that the politician now moves with a convoy and enjoys enhanced security, which he said was inconsistent with his known profile within the party.
“Suddenly, this is a man we all know, and he now has a convoy of armoured cars, security details, and is living in luxury. Where did all that come from?” he queried.
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Dismissing suggestions of internal division, Abdullahi insisted that the crisis within the ADC was engineered from outside the party and amplified by political actors seeking to weaken opposition structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He specifically accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of contributing to the tension, describing the situation as a coordinated attempt to destabilise the opposition.
“There was no confusion in ADC, except that which has been engineered by INEC, which is being used by the ruling All Progressives Congress… What INEC has done is to create a situation that never existed,” he said.
INEC ‘Has No Power’ Over Party Leadership
The ADC spokesman also challenged INEC’s role in the unfolding dispute, arguing that the commission lacks constitutional authority to interfere in the internal leadership structure of political parties.
“INEC does not have the power to remove leadership of a political party… The role of INEC is supervisory, not administrative,” Abdullahi stated.
He maintained that political parties are voluntary associations and that external bodies cannot dictate their internal governance.
The crisis intensified following a Court of Appeal ruling which directed that the status quo be maintained in the party leadership tussle.
However, Abdullahi argued that the ruling has been misinterpreted by INEC and Bala’s camp.
He explained that prior to the dispute, a leadership structure led by former Senate President David Mark was already in place following a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
“The Court of Appeal ruling was very clear… maintain status quo ante bellum… before Nafiu Bala went to court, David Mark was already the duly recognised chairman,” he said.
On Bala’s claim that his resignation letter was forged, Abdullahi dismissed the allegation, challenging him to provide evidence of any formal complaint to security agencies.
“Forgery is a criminal offence… Has he reported to the police? There is none, and that tells you everything you need to know,” he said.
He further claimed that internal records and even what he described as Bala’s “linguistic patterns” supported the authenticity of the resignation document.
Abdullahi escalated the matter further, alleging that the ongoing turmoil in the ADC forms part of a broader political strategy aimed at weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
He warned that if unchecked, the situation could leave Nigeria with limited political competition.
“All these things you are seeing are meant to achieve a particular end… to ensure that by 2027 there will be only one candidate on the ballot,” he alleged.
Despite the crisis, Abdullahi confirmed that the ADC has proceeded to secure legal backing for its planned national convention, insisting that the party has complied with all statutory requirements, including notifying INEC within the stipulated 21-day period.
He maintained that the party would not be deterred by what he described as attempts to derail its activities.
“We have complied fully with the law… There is absolutely nothing unlawful about proceeding with our convention,” he said.
While acknowledging public concern over the crisis, Abdullahi said the ADC remains committed to strengthening democratic opposition in Nigeria, urging members to remain focused on national interest.
“We understand Nigerians’ expectations… Democracy thrives when there is a strong and credible opposition,” he noted.
He concluded by framing the crisis as a test of Nigeria’s democratic system, expressing confidence in the judiciary to resolve the dispute.
“What is at stake here is not just the ADC; it is Nigeria’s democracy itself… We are not intimidated, we are not discouraged,” he added.
The internal wrangling within the ADC continues to generate political debate, with factions trading accusations even as the party positions itself as a key opposition force ahead of the next general elections.
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