ADC Faction Rejects David Mark’s Leadership Claim, Calls It a Constitutional Coup
A fierce leadership dispute has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the faction led by former Gombe governorship candidate, Nafiu Bala, has denounced former Senate President David Mark’s alleged bid to seize control of the party.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday by Dr. Aminu Alhassan, Bala’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, the faction described Mark’s leadership claim as “unfounded, unconstitutional, and a brazen violation” of the party’s internal rules.
“The resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu does not mean an open contest for power,” the statement declared. “It must be resolved through processes guided strictly by the ADC’s constitution.”
Dr. Alhassan insisted that only bona fide members of the ADC are eligible to contest leadership positions, accusing David Mark and his associates of attempting to bypass constitutional requirements.
According to the statement, the proper mechanism for selecting a new party leader is a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, followed by ratification during the party’s convention — not backdoor arrangements or political strong-arming.
“There is no provision — in the ADC constitution, the Federal Constitution, or INEC regulations — that allows a non-member or external actor to declare themselves party leader,” Alhassan stated.
He reaffirmed Alhaji Nafiu Bala as the legitimate National Chairman of the party and urged members to remain united, focused, and undeterred by what he described as “disruptive antics.”
“These actions by David Mark and his cohort are not just a misinterpretation of our governance structure but a blatant assault on our democratic values,” the statement added.
The faction expressed full confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold party rules and prevent what it called an unconstitutional power grab.
“INEC must continue to serve as the guardian of internal democracy. We will work with them to ensure that only genuine members determine the future of our party,” Alhassan concluded.
Calling for calm, the Bala-led faction appealed to party loyalists not to be discouraged, reiterating the ADC’s founding principles of integrity, accountability, and democratic leadership.
