…Raises alarm of plot to ‘Takeover’ of Party
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged a plot by powerful figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the opposition party and pave the way for Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emerge as the only viable presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on March 15, 2026, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the alleged plot involves attempts to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into recognising Nafiu Bala Gombe as the National Chairman of the ADC.
Abdullahi described the move as a desperate attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of the next general elections.
“The African Democratic Congress has uncovered a desperate and sinister plot allegedly being orchestrated by powerful figures within the ruling APC to pressure INEC into recognising a certain Nafiu Bala as the National Chairman of the ADC,” he said.
According to him, the alleged scheme is being driven by an unnamed APC governor in collaboration with a senior security official in Abuja.
“This brazen attempt to undermine and destabilise the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections is reportedly being driven by an APC governor in collaboration with a senior security official based in Abuja, as part of a plot to impose President Tinubu on Nigerians as the sole presidential contender in 2027,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC spokesperson said the individual at the centre of the controversy, Nafiu Bala Gombe, had previously been expelled from the party.
He said Gombe, who once claimed to be Deputy National Chairman under former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, was removed after actions deemed inconsistent with the party’s constitution and principles.
“Mr. Gombe, who once claimed to be Deputy National Chairman under the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, was duly expelled from the ADC after engaging in actions that were inconsistent with the party’s constitution, its principles, and the collective decisions of its leadership,” Abdullahi said.
He further alleged that certain elements within the ruling establishment were now attempting to use the expelled member to destabilise the party’s leadership structure.
“It is therefore shocking, though not surprising, that elements within the ruling establishment are now attempting to use him as a willing instrument of destabilisation in a plot to forcefully take over the leadership of the ADC,” he said.
Abdullahi maintained that the leadership of the ADC had already been lawfully transferred following a joint meeting of the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee.
According to him, the meeting — witnessed by INEC officials — handed over leadership to a coalition led by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola in July 2025, with the electoral commission formally recognising the arrangement in September 2025.
He also noted that a legal challenge to the leadership had recently been dismissed by the court.
“Most recently, on March 6, a Federal High Court dismissed a case challenging Mark’s leadership of the party, affirming the well-grounded Supreme Court judgment that matters of leadership are wholly an internal affair of political parties,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC warned that attempts by any political force to infiltrate or manipulate opposition parties pose a threat to democratic pluralism in Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive where the ruling party seeks to capture, infiltrate, or manufacture opposition parties for its own political convenience and survival,” he stated.
He described such actions as a dangerous assault on the constitutional rights of Nigerians to organise politically and support credible alternatives.
The party therefore urged the public, party members and democratic institutions to disregard the activities of Nafiu Bala Gombe and those backing him.
“We therefore call on the general public, party members, and democratic institutions to disregard the activities and claims of Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe and those backing his illegitimate adventure. We know them and their game plans, and we will resist them by all lawful democratic means. We will defend our democracy,” Abdullahi said.
He added that the ADC remains united and determined to offer Nigerians a credible political alternative ahead of the next election cycle.
“The ADC remains united, focused, and committed to building a strong democratic alternative for Nigerians. No amount of intimidation, infiltration, or political engineering will derail this mission,” he added.
