ADC coalition in turmoil as Gombe declares himself interim chair

Barely a month after its much-publicised rebranding as a mega opposition coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing a major internal crisis that threatens to derail its unity.

The turmoil began after Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, unilaterally declared himself as Interim National Chairman, citing constitutional breaches and the alleged hijacking of the party by non-members.

At its formation, the coalition had appointed former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman, ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, as spokesperson, under a transitional arrangement to restructure the party for the 2027 general elections.

The political alliance also includes heavyweight opposition figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Salihu Lukman, among others.

The internal revolt began with open criticism by several prominent ADC figures, including Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, who described the handover of the party to opposition stalwarts as “illegal” and lacking internal approval.

On July 4, 2025, three aggrieved members—Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila—filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1328/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the legitimacy of the newly appointed interim leadership.

The plaintiffs argued that Dr. Ralph Nwosu, whose tenure as national chairman had expired, had no legal authority to convene the meeting that birthed the coalition leadership. They urged the court to declare the appointments of Mark, Aregbesola, and Abdullahi as “unconstitutional, unlawful, null, and void.”

READ ALSO: Fresh leadership crisis hits ADC, Bala divides party

At a press briefing in Abuja, Nafiu Bala Gombe said his action was necessary to save the party from what he described as “political hooliganism” and “a shoddily rehearsed political melodrama” aimed at surrendering the ADC to “powerful outsiders with no stake in the party.”

“We are witnessing an unprecedented assault on democracy within our party. The constitutional responsibilities of ADC leaders have been abandoned, and we cannot allow the party to be mortgaged,” Gombe said.

He declared that, as the constitutionally elected Deputy National Chairman, he had the legal backing to assume the role of Interim National Chairman.

 He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership change and warned of legal consequences if the ongoing “impunity” persists.

In response, a senior party official who spoke anonymously said Gombe had previously rejected a zonal leadership position offered to him and may be acting out of personal grievance.

“The party is aware of the situation. We will evaluate the matter and make an official pronouncement soon,” the source stated.

In a related development, the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled members who openly defected to the ADC-led coalition. The announcement was made by Segun Edwards, spokesperson of the PDP Elders Caucus and chairmen from the 20 local government areas of the state.

Edwards disclosed that the decision was reached at an enlarged stakeholders meeting, following PDP’s National Executive Council (NEC) deliberations.

“Members who declared for the ADC while still being in PDP have desecrated party principles and were unanimously expelled,” he said.