A factional leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, has expressed disappointment with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for failing to personally contact him amid the lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.
Bala said he regarded Atiku as a father figure but was surprised that the former vice-president had yet to reach out to him despite their shared North-East geopolitical background.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, the ADC factional leader, however, declared his willingness to work with Atiku, former Senate President David Mark and other prominent party leaders to strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His comments come amid the protracted leadership dispute within the ADC, following a court judgment which he claimed had vindicated his faction and affirmed its position in the party’s leadership structure.
Expressing satisfaction with the ruling, Bala said the court recognised the merits of his faction’s case and upheld its position based on the provisions of the party’s constitution.
“Alhamdulillah. As we always say, truth is truth, while lies remain lies. Allah has vindicated us. The court has seen the merit of our case and our truthfulness and has decided to return the party leadership to us,” he said.
He disclosed that his faction was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before approaching the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update the party’s leadership records.
Despite the court victory, Bala insisted that he had no intention of using the ruling to settle scores with members of the opposing faction, urging them to embrace reconciliation in the interest of building a stronger opposition.
“This is not a fight. Allah has given us victory, but we are not enemies. We are extending a hand of friendship to them to stop being arrogant and whatever they may say, so that we can strengthen the opposition and face the government,” he stated.
The factional leader maintained that anyone seeking to join the ADC or contest elections under its platform must comply with the party’s constitution, particularly provisions governing membership registration, payment of dues and eligibility for leadership positions.
According to him, the party’s constitution requires members to have at least two years of membership and fulfil their financial obligations before qualifying for leadership positions.
Bala accused the opposing faction of disregarding the party’s membership registration procedures, alleging that David Mark obtained his membership card from a former national chairman in Abuja instead of completing the registration process at his ward.
He said he had repeatedly cautioned members of the opposing group about the consequences of violating the party’s constitution, but his warnings were ignored.
Bala also dismissed allegations that he was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the opposition, insisting that his decision to approach the court was solely aimed at protecting his rights and defending the ADC constitution.
“I went to court with only the constitution. I told the world that if they had followed the right procedures, the court should rule in their favour. But if we were right, we should be given our rights,” he said.
On the continued appearance of Atiku’s and David Mark’s names on INEC’s portal, Bala expressed confidence that the commission would take appropriate action after receiving the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
He rejected suggestions that INEC was deliberately delaying the implementation of the ruling, arguing that the commission might not yet have received the official court document.
The ADC factional leader also dismissed arguments that the large crowds attracted by the party during political engagements in Sokoto and Kebbi states should have persuaded him to abandon his legal challenge.
He maintained that political popularity and financial influence could not justify violations of the law, warning that Nigeria would struggle to make progress if influential politicians continued to disregard established rules.
Bala further alleged that some individuals involved in the leadership dispute had circulated documents claiming that he had resigned from his position, describing the reports as misleading.
On preparations for the 2027 general elections, he said his faction had directed all aspirants seeking elective positions on the ADC platform to continue their campaign activities.
He urged members of the opposing faction to remain patient, respect the party’s constitution and complete their membership registration at their respective wards.
He also disclosed that his faction largely relied on membership dues and other contributions generated through internal party activities to finance its operations.
ADC, NBA Clash Over Disciplinary Action Against Atiku’s Lawyer
Meanwhile, the ADC leadership crisis has continued to generate controversy, with the party recently accusing the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of double standards over disciplinary proceedings initiated against Kalu Kalu, a lawyer representing Atiku.
The NBA had petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over alleged insulting remarks Kalu made about Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on November 11.
Kalu reportedly described the judge as a “coconut judge” while discussing a judgment delivered against the ADC and its implications for the party’s political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the programme’s host cautioned him against making disparaging remarks about a sitting judge and asked him to withdraw the comment, Kalu eventually agreed, maintaining that his disagreement with the judge could be expressed through an examination of the substance of the case.
Reacting to the NBA’s action, the ADC accused the association of applying double standards, questioning why it had not demonstrated similar concern when the Court of Appeal reportedly criticised Justice Lifu’s conduct in a June 2026 ruling.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that the NBA should be more concerned about alleged judicial misconduct than taking disciplinary action against a lawyer over his comments.
“Why is the NBA only now finding its voice because a politician, who also happens to be a lawyer, has said something that some people find uncomfortable? What has Kalu Kalu said about Justice Peter Lifu that the Court of Appeal has not already said?” the party queried.
The ADC also cautioned the NBA against allowing itself to be drawn into what it described as a political campaign against opposition figures.
The party maintained that the association’s historical role in defending democracy and the rule of law should prevent it from taking actions that could create the impression that it was siding with the ruling party.
However, NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, condemned Kalu’s choice of words, stressing that lawyers have the right to scrutinise court judgments, challenge judicial reasoning and identify errors but must avoid personal attacks against judicial officers.
She maintained that judges should be held accountable for their decisions but warned that insulting judicial officers neither proves that a judgment is wrong nor provides a legal remedy for an aggrieved party.
