The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reached a boiling point as the David Mark-led leadership announced that it has expelled Nafiu Bala over ‘anti-party activities’.
Bala, who is a factional National Chairman of the ADC was expelled by the Mark-led faction following a series of leadership disputes that have rocked the party’s foundation.
The decision was announced on Tuesday in Abuja at the ongoing party’s national convention.
Also, Leke Abejide, member of the house of representatives; Kenneth Ehiator, Stella Chukwu, and Elias Adiukwu were all expelled from the party.
Binos Yaroe, senator representing Adamawa South, moved the motion for their expulsion.
This comes after the rift began in mid-2025 when the ADC inaugurated former Mark as its interim National Chairman. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially recognized this leadership, Bala and his supporters challenged the move, claiming it was an “imposition.”
Recent weeks have seen these tensions explode into public view, with Bala’s camp being accused of forging resignation letters and attempting to hold parallel meetings.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the ADC is holding its national convention at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, with many party stalwarts in attendance.
About 3,000 delegates are expected to participate in the election of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.
Among dignitaries present are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former New Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, among several others.
Speaking at the event, Mark delivered a message that blended warning, defiance, and a call for opposition leaders to come together across party lines.
“We are not for the spoken, but at times when things are bad, you need to imagine it in figures, democracy will not die on our watch,” he said.
He told delegates that there had been attempts to frustrate the convention, alleging that forces opposed to a united ADC used institutions and administrative hurdles to block the gathering.
“Through the courts, through institutions, through bureaucratic obstruction, they sought to stop this convention from happening. They removed our names from official portals. They denied us preferred venues, but we are here,” he said, referring to efforts to disrupt the convention.
Mark pointed to recent developments involving the Independent National Electoral Commission as raising concerns about how democratic processes are being handled, warning that the opposition would not back down.
“In an ever-shrinking democratic space, the ADC will not bow, we will not cower, and we will not retreat,” he said.
