A major political crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party recently adopted by a coalition of political actors as its platform for the 2027 general elections. The unfolding conflict, marked by strong accusations of constitutional violations and internal power struggles, now casts a shadow over the party’s unity and the credibility of its leadership.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Tuesday, July 30, 2025, Hon. Nafi’u Bala Gombe, the National Deputy Chairman of ADC, declared himself the Acting National Chairman, citing constitutional provisions and accusing the current leadership of gross misconduct and illegal transfer of power to non-party members.
According to Hon. Bala, “This total surrender and capitulation is without any known precedent in our democratic journey to constitutional order.” He described recent decisions by certain party leaders as a “gross breach of internal democracy” and an “open rape on ADC’s constitution.”
The statement, addressed to party members and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), condemned what he described as an “abdication of constitutional duties” and a deliberate handover of the party structure to outsiders who never contested or held party membership.
Hon. Bala warned of legal action to challenge the “gross acts of impunity” and called on INEC to recognize his leadership in line with the party’s constitutional succession guidelines. “I now assume my constitutional duty and responsibility as the Interim National Chairman of our great party,” Bala declared.
This development comes as a shock to many observers, especially as ADC has recently emerged as the preferred platform for a coalition of political actors and presidential hopefuls aiming to present a united opposition front in the 2027 elections.
The infighting threatens to destabilize the coalition’s plans and could derail ongoing campaign strategies if the crisis remains unresolved. Political analysts say the timing of the conflict is particularly damaging, as parties prepare for candidate primaries and broader electoral mobilization.
So far, the national leadership of ADC has yet to issue an official response to Hon. Bala’s declaration and allegations. However, tension is high among party loyalists, stakeholders, and coalition partners, who now fear that the ADC may implode just as it gains national traction.
As the drama unfolds, all eyes are on INEC and the party’s Board of Trustees to intervene and restore order, lest the ADC’s internal crisis spills over to undermine the broader political coalition depending on its platform.