MEMBERS of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) loyal to Nafiu Bala have staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, intensifying the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
The demonstration, led by Bala alongside House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, comes barely a day after a separate protest by a rival faction within the party.
The Bala-led group is urging INEC to formally recognise him as the legitimate national chairman of the ADC.
The party is currently divided into at least three factions, each claiming control.
These include groups aligned with David Mark, Nafiu Bala, and Dumebi Kachikwu.
Just a day earlier, supporters of the Mark-led faction had also rallied at the INEC headquarters, demanding recognition of their leadership.
That protest drew several prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, and Dino Melaye.
Protesters from the Mark faction accused INEC of colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties and undermine democracy.
They also called for the resignation of INEC chairman Joash Amupitan.
The crisis within the ADC began after Bala, formerly the party’s national vice-chairman, asserted that he should assume the chairmanship following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu.
Nwosu stepped down after the party was adopted by an opposition coalition as a platform for the 2027 general elections.
Although the Mark-led executives subsequently took over the party’s leadership, Bala challenged the move in court.
The dispute has since progressed through the legal system, with a Federal High Court yet to deliver a final ruling.
In the meantime, INEC has stated that it will not recognise any factional leadership until the court resolves the matter.
The commission has also removed David Mark’s name as the party’s chairman from its official records.
