ADC Leadership Crisis Intensifies as Bala, Abejide Reject Expulsion
The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated dramatically on Friday, as the faction led by National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe and House of Representatives member Leke Abejide vehemently rejected their reported expulsion from the party. The duo described the expulsion as entirely illegal and a product of what they termed a "hijacked structure," setting the stage for a protracted legal and political battle.
Expulsion Dismissed as Illegal and Propaganda-Driven
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Bala Gombe maintained that those who announced the expulsion lacked any legal standing to do so, arguing forcefully that they were not even recognized members of the ADC. "Our suspension is a nullity. These individuals are not even members of our party, so they lack the locus to take such decisions. We will fight it to the last point," he declared with unwavering resolve.
Bala further categorically ruled out any form of negotiation with the rival bloc, stating emphatically that there was no agreement or understanding between his leadership and the coalition-backed faction. "I cannot negotiate with people who are not members of our party. There is no understanding or arrangement with them whatsoever," he added, dismissing any possibility of reconciliation under current circumstances.
Background of the Crisis and Allegations of Forgery
The crisis stems from a convention held in Abuja on April 14 by a coalition aligned with former Senate President David Mark, where the faction announced the expulsion of Bala, Abejide, and others over alleged anti-party activities. However, the Bala-led leadership dismissed the entire exercise as unlawful, insisting it violated subsisting court orders and lacked the recognition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bala warned that actions taken in defiance of a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, were liable to be voided by the courts. He revealed that the matter has escalated beyond mere internal party disagreement, alleging that forged documents bearing his signature had surfaced as part of concerted efforts to legitimize the actions of the rival group.
Abejide's Strong Rebuttal and Warning of Electoral Consequences
On his part, Leke Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, described the purported expulsion as laughable and accused the opposing faction of attempting to destabilize the party. "These are people who came to destroy this party. They have no stake here and cannot dictate the future of ADC," he asserted, questioning the credibility of coalition figures by alleging that many have a history of moving across multiple political parties.
Abejide issued a stark warning that the lingering crisis could jeopardize the party's electoral prospects if not urgently resolved. "I am not a political merchant running from one party to another. I have been in ADC since 2017 and never changed party, but many of the coalition leaders have moved from PDP to ACN to APC back to PDP to APGA to Labour Party to NPP to ADC, and so on. Our resistance is because of their habitual character of political use and dump," he explained, highlighting the ideological divide.
Legal Threats and Potential Party Exodus
The lawmaker emphasized that the so-called suspension constitutes contempt of court orders from both the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court, noting that he has briefed his lawyers on possible litigation. "The principles of law forbid this; in our jurisprudence, it is called lis pendis," he stated, underscoring the legal impropriety of the action while his case is still in court.
In a strongly worded remark, Abejide cautioned that his camp would not hesitate to walk away if the party was pushed to the brink, adding a dire prediction: "At the stage we are now, if this is not resolved quickly, anyone contesting on this platform risks their political career." He further warned that the ongoing crisis could prevent the ADC from fielding candidates in future elections, squarely blaming the rival faction for any such catastrophic outcome. "If, at the end of these shenanigans, ADC cannot field candidates, then the coalition people should be blamed for the failure," he concluded, painting a grim picture of the party's future if the impasse persists.
