A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the faction loyal to Nafiu Bala ordered the immediate suspension of the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms pending the outcome of an ongoing court case over the party’s leadership.
The Bala faction warned that any aspirant who proceeds to purchase nomination forms from the camp led by former Senate President David Mark would be doing so at their own risk.
The development comes amid an escalating legal and political battle over control of the opposition party ahead of future elections.
In a statement released in Abuja on Friday, the Secretary of the ADC Board of Trustees, Rufus Akanmi, said the decision followed resolutions reached during a BoT meeting held on Thursday.
According to him, all party stakeholders were directed to halt any transaction involving nomination forms until the Federal High Court delivers a final judgment in the leadership dispute currently before it.
“All parties concerned are directed to immediately suspend the sale/purchase of such forms pending the final determination of the matter presently before the Federal High Court,” Akanmi stated.
“It is expressly stated that any person who proceeds to purchase the said forms does so at their own risk, and the African Democratic Congress shall not accept any liability or responsibility for consequences arising therefrom,” he added.
The faction also praised the Supreme Court’s April 30, 2026 ruling in the matter, describing the judgment as a major victory for constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
Akanmi further appealed to members of the coalition bloc and supporters of the Mark-led faction to cooperate with what he described as the Gombe-led leadership structure in order to preserve unity within the party ahead of the next general elections.
As part of its resolutions, the faction directed the National Working Committee to immediately establish caretaker committees in states where the tenure of party executives had expired.
It also called for the organisation of a mini national convention to fill vacant positions created by the resignation of some members of the National Working Committee.
Meanwhile, the leadership tussle suffered another twist on Friday after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja were adjourned indefinitely.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, had earlier been delayed following an interlocutory appeal filed by David Mark’s camp, which eventually reached the Supreme Court.
During Friday’s sitting, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, informed the court that the Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and lifted the order previously halting proceedings in the substantive suit.
However, Haruna disclosed that the plaintiff had already written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting that the matter be reassigned to another judge.
He urged Justice Emeka Nwite to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge before continuing with the case.
The application was strongly opposed by lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to delay the case and frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the appellate courts.
Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, argued that the plaintiff had misrepresented the Supreme Court ruling and accused the Bala faction of ambushing the defence with the transfer request.
Another defence lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, condemned the move as “forum shopping and judge shopping,” insisting that the Supreme Court had earlier commended Justice Nwite’s handling of the matter.
Counsel for the fifth defendant, P.I. Oyewole, also criticised the application, describing it as an attempt to pressure the Chief Judge into what he called “judicial rascality.”
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not take action on the transfer request without giving all parties the opportunity to respond.
He stated that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, the trial court lacked the authority to make pronouncements on it until further directives were issued.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely to allow parties obtain a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and await possible instructions from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
