African Democratic Congress Accuses Ruling Party of Plotting Leadership Takeover
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) alleges that Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is exerting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe as the party’s National Chairman. The ADC, positioning itself as a key opposition force, claims the move is a deliberate strategy to destabilise its leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released from Abuja, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi described the effort as a calculated attempt by elements within the APC to manufacture internal confusion. The party asserts that Nafiu Bala Gombe, reported to be an ally of President Bola Tinubu, is already an expelled member of the ADC, leaving his claim to the chairmanship without legal merit.
The statement frames the development as part of a broader plot by the ruling party to ensure President Tinubu faces minimal opposition in the next electoral cycle. “This is part of the elaborate plot by the ruling party to ensure that Tinubu emerges unopposed as the only serious contender on the ballot in 2027,” the ADC declared, accusing the administration of seeking to weaken what it calls the “only viable opposition platform left in the country.”
The ADC maintains that its legitimate leadership is firmly under Senator David Mark. This position, the party states, was cemented by a combined meeting of its National Working Committee and National Executive Committee in July 2025, an event witnessed by INEC officials. Bolaji insisted there is “no legal basis for any confusion” regarding the party’s hierarchy.
The opposition party has vowed to resist what it terms plots by “anti-democratic forces” within the ruling party, stating it will employ “every legitimate means” to protect competitive democracy in Nigeria. The public accusation escalates political tensions as the nation looks toward the 2027 polls, spotlighting the integrity of INEC’s processes and the operational space for opposition parties. The ADC’s stance underscores deepening concerns about the level playing field for Nigeria’s multi-party system.
