The African Democratic Congress says powerful figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress are plotting to destabilize the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Monay, the party’s publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi accused the ruling party of attempting to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Nafiu Bala Gombe as the party’s national chairman.
Abdullahi said the alleged move is part of a broader plan to create confusion within opposition parties and ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges as the only serious presidential contender in the 2027 elections.
The ADC insists there is no leadership dispute within the party, maintaining that David Mark remains its national leader following a combined meeting of the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee in July 2025 witnessed by INEC officials.
According to the party, the electoral commission formally recognized the Mark led leadership in September 2025.
The ADC also cited a Federal High Court ruling which dismissed a suit challenging Mark’s leadership, reaffirming the position that leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters.
The party described Gombe as an expelled member who previously claimed to serve as deputy national chairman under former chairman Ralph Nwosu but was removed for actions inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
ADC warned that attempts to impose expelled individuals on its leadership would be resisted.
The party also said efforts to infiltrate or weaken opposition platforms could pose a threat to Nigeria’s democratic system as the country approaches the next general elections.
