The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has defended the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as its National Chairman, insisting that Nafiu Bala Gombe has no constitutional or authorized foundation to put declare to the place.
The get together stated Bala resigned from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the get together in May 2025, formally relinquishing his place to pave the way in which for the coalition that subsequently adopted the ADC as its political platform.
In a doc titled “The ADC Leadership Question: Fallacy vs Fact,” signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the get together outlined a sequence of occasions resulting in the emergence of the Mark-led management, arguing that the transition was initiated and accredited by the get together’s former management.
According to the doc, the Nwosu-led NWC waived the get together’s two-year membership requirement on March 27, 2025, to accommodate members of the opposition coalition.
It added that at a gathering of the National Executive Committee (NEC) on May 15, 2025, the choice that each one current get together executives would resign to pave the way in which for the coalition was communicated.
The get together maintained that Bala participated within the course of, together with signing the attendance register on the March assembly and attending the May NEC assembly.
It additional claimed that Bala signed a resignation letter dated May 17, 2025, with impact from May 26, 2025, stating that his choice was to make sure a easy and efficient coalition association.
The ADC stated it subsequently notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his resignation by a letter dated July 21, 2025, which the fee acquired on August 12 and authorized on October 10, 2025.
The get together additionally dismissed allegations that the emergence of Mark amounted to a hostile takeover, arguing that the previous management publicly introduced its choice to step apart on the coalition’s adoption of the ADC on July 2, 2025.
It stated Bala himself publicly welcomed Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary in a social media publish on July 3, 2025.
The get together additional disclosed that Bala attended a gathering of former NWC members at Mark’s residence on July 11, 2025, the place they reportedly pledged loyalty to the brand new management.
On July 29, 2025, the ADC stated its 99th NEC assembly, monitored by a seven-member INEC delegation, dissolved the NWC led by Ralph Nwosu and ratified the Mark-led management.
It maintained that Bala was current on the assembly, the place his title appeared as quantity 53 on the attendance register.
The get together additionally rejected the argument that Bala robotically grew to become National Chairman following Nwosu’s departure, explaining that he was one in every of six Deputy National Chairmen and was not the primary within the order of priority.
According to the ADC, Dr Ganiyu Ajadi, who held the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) place, was the primary deputy, whereas Bala occupied the Governance and Legislation portfolio.
Citing Article 17(4) of its structure, the get together argued {that a} emptiness within the workplace of National Chairman requires the suitable govt committee to nominate a substitute from the zone of the previous officeholder.
It insisted that no assembly, decision or official report had ever been produced to determine that Bala was appointed National Chairman.
On the authorized disputes surrounding the management, the ADC recalled that Bala instituted his go well with on September 2, 2025, greater than three months after his resignation allegedly took impact.
It stated the Court of Appeal, on March 12, 2026, ordered that the established order ante bellum be maintained pending the willpower of the substantive dispute, prompting INEC to droop recognition of the Mark-led management.
However, the get together stated the Supreme Court unanimously put aside the established order order on April 30, 2026, after which INEC restored the Mark-led nationwide officers on its portal.
The ADC additionally cited a July 2, 2026, judgment by Justice Liman, which upheld the Mark-led management and directed INEC to recognise it.
It, nonetheless, acknowledged the November 5, 2026, judgment by Justice Lifu in favour of Bala, however maintained that the ruling didn’t conclusively settle the management dispute.
The get together disclosed that it had appealed the judgment and filed a movement for keep of execution.
Abdullahi argued that the existence of a judgment by a court docket of coordinate jurisdiction in favour of the Mark-led management raised additional authorized questions concerning the newest ruling.
The get together stated its place was supported by its structure, documentary information and the sooner judgment recognising the Mark-led management.
It challenged Bala to determine the assembly at which he was allegedly elected National Chairman, the individuals who convened and attended the assembly, the decision ratifying his appointment and the National Secretary who serves below his management.
The ADC insisted that the one management ratified by its NEC was the Mark-led nationwide govt, comprising David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
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