Forgery Allegations Rock African Democratic Congress As Abejide Defends Nafiu Bala

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress escalated on Thursday as House of Representatives member Leke Abejide declared that Nafiu Bala remains the party’s legitimate National Chairman.

Abejide called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognise Bala, insisting he is the rightful holder of the position.

He made the statement while speaking to journalists during a protest in Abuja organised by supporters of the Bala-led faction. Demonstrators gathered across parts of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding recognition for Bala and rejecting rival leadership claims.

The lawmaker maintained that Bala never stepped down from his role, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.

According to him, Bala is the only remaining member of the party’s National Executive Committee who did not resign amid the internal crisis.

He alleged that claims of Bala’s resignation were fabricated, insisting that some individuals were falsifying information to support opposing narratives.

Abejide also criticised INEC for failing to acknowledge Bala as the party’s authentic chairman, urging the commission to act accordingly.

During the protest, supporters of the Bala faction warned key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and David Mark, to stay out of the party’s affairs, accusing them of attempting to take control of the ADC.

The protest came just a day after a separate demonstration by a rival faction aligned with David Mark at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja. That earlier protest reportedly featured several prominent political figures, including Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and David Mark.

The back-to-back protests highlight the deepening divisions within the ADC, with competing factions asserting control over the party’s leadership and seeking official recognition from the electoral body.