The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified on Thursday as a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, declared that Nafiu Bala remains the authentic National Chairman of the party.
Abejide also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to formally recognise Bala, insisting that he is the only valid occupant of the position.
The lawmaker made the declaration while addressing journalists during a protest organised by the Bala-led faction of the party in Abuja.
Naija News reports that supporters of the faction had converged on the streets of the Federal Capital Territory in the early hours of Thursday, demanding recognition for Bala and rejecting rival claims to the party’s leadership.
Abejide maintained that Bala did not resign from his position, contrary to claims circulating within the party.
‘Bala Never Resigned’
He argued that Bala was the only member of the party’s National Executive Committee who remained in office following a wave of alleged resignations.
According to him, “Nwosu who resigned did so without notice. There was no meeting. This new national chairman they are seeing behind me was the only party National Executive Committee member who did not resign.
“Though they are forging everything around saying that he resigned but I am aware he did not resign.
“We expected INEC to have done the honourable thing by putting his name as the authentic National Chairman.
“Nafiu Bala was the only party executive who did not resign. INEC should do the honourable thing by putting his name as the authentic National Chairman of the ADC, nothing more.”
During the demonstration, supporters of the Bala-led faction also called on prominent opposition figures to steer clear of the party.
They specifically warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and former Senate President David Mark against alleged attempts to hijack the ADC.
Naija News reports that the protest was led by Bala, who accused the political heavyweights of interfering in the party’s internal affairs.
Thursday’s protest comes barely 24 hours after another demonstration by a rival faction loyal to David Mark at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The earlier protest reportedly had in attendance several prominent political figures, including Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and David Mark.
The back-to-back protests underscore the deepening leadership crisis within the ADC, with both factions laying claim to the party’s national structure and seeking recognition from the electoral umpire.
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