African Democratic Congress (ADC) factional leader Nafiu Bala Gombe has rebuffed former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s intervention in the party’s ongoing leadership crisis, accusing the former lawmaker of acting like a mole for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The dispute erupted after Kwankwaso claimed Gombe, whom he alleged is just 35 years old, had declined a fatherly invitation to resolve the factional dispute within the opposition party. Kwankwaso, who recently joined the ADC as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections, expressed disappointment at Gombe’s refusal to heed his counsel.
In a sharp rebuttal, Gombe dismissed Kwankwaso’s age claim as inaccurate, stating he is 46 years old. “Even if I am young, Kwankwaso has no right to look down on me,” Gombe declared, reminding the former governor that many current political leaders assumed major public offices at relatively young ages.
The factional leader argued that Kwankwaso’s interference in the party’s internal affairs is inappropriate, suggesting that older politicians should step aside to allow younger leaders to steer the party’s direction. “They should allow youths to steer the affairs of our parties and the country while they play advisory roles,” Gombe insisted.
The leadership tussle has created two rival factions within the ADC, with Gombe leading one faction and former Senate President David Mark heading the other. Both claim legitimate control of the party’s structures ahead of the crucial 2027 elections.
Gombe further questioned Kwankwaso’s moral authority to intervene, citing the former governor’s refusal in 2023 to step down from the presidential race despite pressure from northern elders led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. “Having refused to step down then, he has no moral justification to bully or advise me on the injustice being done to me by impostors in the ADC,” Gombe stated firmly.
The factional crisis threatens to undermine the ADC’s position as a platform for opposition forces planning to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 polls. Political analysts warn that continued infighting could weaken the party’s electoral prospects and diminish its role in the emerging opposition coalition.
As the dispute intensifies, party members and stakeholders are watching closely to see whether mediation efforts can bridge the divide between the rival factions before the party’s internal cohesion is irreparably damaged.
