Nafiu Bala, the Gombe State Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) during the 2023 general elections, has alleged that a leadership crisis within the party has been engineered by individuals he refers to as “political hooligans.”

In a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, Bala declared himself the Interim National Chairman of the party. He stated, “As the duly elected National Deputy Chairman of our great party, I now assume my constitutional duty and responsibility as the Interim National Chairman.”

Bala criticised former party leaders for neglecting their constitutional responsibilities and handing over the party’s structures to “powerful outsiders” who have no affiliation with the ADC. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise this leadership change and uphold the sanctity of the ADC constitution.

He emphasised, “I, Honourable Nafiu Bala, a bona fide member and duly elected National Deputy Chairman of our great party, the African Democratic Congress, wish to draw the attention of all party members and Nigerians to the ongoing acts of political hooliganism being perpetrated by certain individuals who were previously entrusted with the party’s leadership.”

Bala expressed his frustrations over the “shameful and lawless” actions of these leaders, who, he claims, have plunged the party into unnecessary crisis and uncertainty. He condemned the idea of relinquishing the party’s future to powerful outsiders with no ties to the party, calling it unacceptable.

He noted, “Recently, the nation witnessed a poorly rehearsed political melodrama, in which elected roles were exchanged with certain unfamiliar groups to enable a complete takeover of the party’s structures and political assets. This alarming capitulation is unprecedented in our democratic journey toward constitutional order.”

Bala emphasised that he and his supporters are resolutely committed to challenging what they see as a violation of the party’s rules and ensuring that the constitutional guidelines are respected. He warned that if the individuals involved do not heed their calls for compliance, they would take legal action to address these grievances.

He stated, “It pains us to bring these scandalous events to your attention, but we have been left with no choice in defending our constitutional rights, given the current situation in the party. In the history of democracy worldwide, no party leader or any group of leaders has the authority to arbitrarily transfer an elected mandate or political power to non-members who did not contest for political office.”

Bala reaffirmed his commitment to restoring constitutional order and internal democracy within the ADC. He stressed that the party’s constitution has clear guidelines for succession and filling vacant positions. “The constitution of our great party provides sufficient provisions outlining the succession guidelines and the process for filling vacancies.”

He concluded, “In light of the circumstances and in furtherance of my constitutional mandate as the duly elected National Deputy Chairman, I now assume my role as the Interim National Chairman of our great party. Therefore, I am calling on the esteemed Independent National Electoral Commission to urgently recognise this development.”

Minister of National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, asserted that the North has no regrets about supporting President Bola Tinubu. He emphasized that the region is well-represented and actively engaged in national governance.

Speaking at a technical session during the Government-Citizen Engagement forum organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation at Arewa House in Kaduna, Bagudu dismissed claims of marginalization. He described Tinubu’s administration as inclusive, competent, and focused on national unity.

“Those of us privileged to serve in President Tinubu’s administration are vigilant in defending Northern interests. There is no exclusion and absolutely no reason for regret,” he stated.

Bagudu praised Tinubu as a true nationalist, noting that appointments and policies under his leadership are based on merit and national interest rather than ethnicity or regional ties. He urged Northern leaders and citizens to reject divisive narratives, emphasizing that the North is fully engaged at all levels of governance.

Addressing the nation’s economic challenges, Bagudu explained that the Tinubu administration inherited a crisis characterized by unsustainable fuel subsidies and dependency on imports. He mentioned that bold reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the removal of fuel subsidies, foreign exchange liberalization, and revenue restructuring, are stabilizing the economy.

“For example, Adamawa State’s federal allocation increased from N9.76 billion in May 2023 to N22.73 billion by June 2025. That’s a clear result of these reforms,” he noted.

He also highlighted significant structural changes, such as returning the Budget Office to the Ministry of National Planning and creating new ministries, such as Livestock Development, Arts and Culture, and the Blue Economy, all aimed at promoting inclusive growth and economic diversification.

Bagudu stated that the government is now transitioning from economic stabilization to inclusive growth, with a strong focus on poverty reduction and long-term development. He encouraged Northern stakeholders to strategically engage with democratic institutions to influence budget priorities and secure regional development goals.

In addition, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, spoke at the event about the food security crisis inherited by the Tinubu administration. He highlighted targeted, data-driven solutions to address the issue.

Abdullahi revealed that through the Agro-Pocket initiative, over 133,000 hectares of wheat were cultivated across 15 Northern states, exceeding the original target of 130,000 hectares. He also announced the rollout of a farmer data audit and registry to eliminate fictitious beneficiaries and ensure that genuine farmers receive support.

He added that Tinubu’s agricultural reforms include mechanization, value chain development, irrigation and dam projects, and institutional restructuring, all aimed at achieving food security and improving rural livelihoods.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has confirmed that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election is not a card-carrying member of their party.

ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed this while speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday night.

Abdullahi, however, insisted that Obi was part of their coalition from the first day.
“Peter Obi has been part of the coalition from day one.

“He has attended almost every meeting of the coalition.

“The reason Peter Obi has not come into the ADC as a card-carrying member is because he asked for leave to allow him complete the election that his people were involved in Labour Party.

“The same thing applies to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. And they were both allowed by the leadership to complete the election processes that they started in their respective parties.

“Peter Obi is a member of the coalition, but not a card-carrying member of the ADC