ADC Crisis Deepens: Nafiu Bala Denies Resignation, Cries Forgery.

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken another dramatic turn after factional leader, Nafiu Bala, strongly denied reports claiming he stepped down from his position in the party.

Bala dismissed the claims as false, insisting that the resignation letter circulating online did not come from him and that the signature attached to the document was forged.

His reaction followed a recent development involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which addressed the ongoing leadership dispute within the party earlier in the week.

In a video message delivered in Hausa that quickly spread across social media, Bala clarified that he never resigned as the party’s deputy national chairman on May 17, 2025, as claimed in the controversial document.

According to him, the letter being shared publicly is fake and was not written or authorised by him.

Bala explained that he became the Acting National Chairman of the ADC after the party’s former leadership stepped down from their roles.

He recalled an event held on July 2 where several political figures expressed interest in joining the party. During that gathering, the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, reportedly announced his resignation alongside other key officials.

Bala said that at the same event, Nwosu publicly stated that he and a few other party members would oversee the affairs of the party until a national convention is held.

Based on that development, Bala said he has now resumed duties as Acting National Chairman in line with the party’s constitution, which allows a deputy to take charge when the leadership position becomes vacant.

He also insisted that if he were to resign from any position, the letter would be issued using his official letterhead.

According to him, any document lacking his official letterhead should not be regarded as authentic.

This is not the first time Bala has denied authoring the alleged resignation letter. As far back as August 1, 2025, he had already dismissed the document, describing it as completely false and deliberately misleading.

The dispute has also spilled into the courts, further complicating the party’s internal crisis.

Former Senate President, David Mark, who is also involved in the leadership tussle, previously insisted that Bala had indeed resigned from his role as deputy national chairman.

Mark maintained that Bala’s resignation was formally communicated to INEC in August 2025. He also questioned Bala’s decision to approach the court months later seeking recognition as the party’s chairman.

The legal dispute between both camps led INEC to temporarily withdraw recognition of the party’s leadership and remove the names of Mark’s executive team from its official portal.

In September 2025, Bala filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja asking the court to stop Mark’s faction from presenting themselves as leaders of the ADC.

He also sought orders restraining INEC from recognising them while asking the court to affirm him as the Acting National Chairman.

The case triggered further legal battles, with Mark challenging the authority of the court to hear the matter.

However, on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s appeal, ruling that the case lacked merit and could not stand.

The ruling has done little to end the crisis, as both sides continue to stake claim to the leadership of the party.