ADC Leadership Crisis: Nwosu Explains Selection of Mark and Aregbesola Amid Internal Dispute
Chief Ralph Nwosu, the pioneer National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has provided detailed explanations for the party's decision to appoint Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as its leaders. This move comes amid a significant internal crisis, with former national vice chairman Nafiu Bala challenging the appointments as unconstitutional and alleging external interference from the presidency.
Coalition Strategy Behind Leadership Choices
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Nwosu elaborated on the strategic reasoning that led to Mark and Aregbesola's appointments. He emphasized that the ADC, in forming a coalition, recognized the necessity of including representatives from other major political parties to ensure broad-based support and functionality. According to Nwosu, during pre-handover meetings, it was resolved that the original ADC would retain key positions such as National Treasurer, National Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, two deputy chairmen, and the Chief Whip.
Nwosu stated, "In the current National Working Committee of the ADC coalition, we have the National Treasurer representing the ADC, the National Welfare Secretary is ADC, the Deputy National Secretary is ADC, and two deputy national chairmen. We have the Chief Whip of the party, and because it was a coalition, we didn't bother ourselves about who is national chairman and National Secretary because other political parties also had to be given positions."
He further explained that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was offered the national chairmanship, represented by Senator David Mark, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) received the secretaryship through Rauf Aregbesola. The Labour Party secured the National Organizing Secretary position. Nwosu stressed, "You cannot build a coalition and fail to consider the interest of others; you can only do that by working together, and that is exactly what we are doing in the coalition."
Allegations of External Pressure and Constitutional Breaches
Nwosu expressed concerns that Nafiu Bala, who resigned and has been critical of the leadership changes, may have been influenced by impatience or external pressures from the presidency to destabilize the ADC. He suggested that Bala might have expected to retain a position but was not included in the final arrangements, leading to his opposition.
In response, Nafiu Bala defended his actions, asserting that his primary motivation is to uphold the ADC's constitution, not personal ambition. He highlighted specific articles, 8(2) and 9(4), which he claims were violated during the induction of Mark and Aregbesola into the party. Bala pointed out that on July 2, 2025, Nwosu announced his resignation at the Yar'Adua Center in Abuja and issued party membership cards to Mark and Aregbesola, appointing them as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. Bala argued this process contravenes party rules regarding membership requirements and eligibility for holding positions.
Bala also criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not recognizing him as the rightful national chairman following the removal of Mark's group, based on an Appeal Court judgment. He stated, "I appreciate INEC's efforts in enforcing the Appeal Court's judgment, but I am definitely not satisfied with their decision not to recognize me as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). As the rightful leader of the ADC, I believe I should be acknowledged by INEC, and I'm pushing for this recognition."
Party Growth and Future Prospects
Despite the ongoing crisis, Nwosu remains optimistic about the ADC's future. He highlighted that under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark, the party has focused on empowering ordinary Nigerians, leading to a significant increase in membership. Nwosu claimed that since INEC's stance and the leadership changes, ADC membership has seen an unbelievable jump, with the party gaining traction across states like Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, and Osun.
Nwosu added, "Everything about the party is going on well, and I can assure you without mincing words that the Nigerian people have taken over the ADC, and it now belongs to the ordinary person in Nigeria. That was why when David Mark initially took over, we felt concerned that he was too quiet, but he said, 'Let the people take over the party,' and that is what has happened."
He concluded by noting that the ADC's growing influence has caused panic among political rivals, who he alleges attempted to "puncture our tyres" by destabilizing the party. However, Nwosu asserted that these efforts have backfired, further strengthening ADC's position as a viable opposition force in Nigeria.
