The internal leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a dramatic turn on Thursday, December 19, 2025, as the faction led by Nafiu Bala announced the suspension of fifteen high-profile party members and declared ongoing state congresses as illegal.
Major Suspensions Over Anti-Party Allegations
At a regular meeting of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja, the Bala-led faction approved a six-month suspension for the members. The decision was based on allegations of engaging in activities deemed capable of undermining the party's unity and administration.
The suspended members include the party's former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu. Others named in the suspension list are Balarabe Rufai, Ibrahim Mani, Dr Bamidele Ajadi, Dr Chike Okogwu, Anayo Arinze, Kenneth Gbandi, Said Abdullahi, Ms Hauwa Musa, Nkem Ukandu, Peters Oyewole, Dr Peter Edeh, Prince Festus Igbinoba, and Razak Eyiwuawi.
In a statement, factional National Chairman Nafiu Bala accused the individuals of working with coalition members to cause disaffection and disrupt the party's peaceful coexistence. He stated the suspension was enacted "pursuant to Article 15(a) of the party constitution."
Congress Declared Illegal, New Appointments Made
In a related move, the NWC disowned special ward, local government, and state congresses reportedly being organized by some party members across Nigeria. The faction declared these exercises "null, void and of no effect whatsoever" and instructed the public to ignore their outcomes.
Simultaneously, the committee announced a series of new appointments aimed at strengthening the party's structure. The most prominent appointment is that of Hon. Leke Abejide, a second-term member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, as the Chairman of the ADC's Board of Patrons.
Abejide, who chairs the House Committee on Customs and Excise, is the party's sole elected federal lawmaker. His appointment was based on his status as a ranking elected official within the ADC.
Other key appointments ratified by the NWC include:
- Bala Sani as Chief of Staff to the National Chairman
- Abimiku Monday as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication
- Muhammad Aboki as Director of Youth Mobilisation
- Bello Shehu as Director of Finance
- Rabiu Mohammed as Administrative Secretary
Deepening Factional Feud and Power Struggle
These latest actions have significantly escalated tensions within the ADC. The party remains sharply divided, with rival groups continuing to assert their legitimacy and control over its structures and operations. The suspension of a former chairman and several other key figures signals a hardening of positions, making the path to reconciliation increasingly difficult.
The ongoing power struggle threatens to further weaken the party's cohesion and its prospects in the political landscape, as internal disputes overshadow its external political objectives.
