The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took another twist on Thursday, when estranged former Deputy Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, led a protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.
Gombe and his supporters are demanding that the electoral umpire recognize him as the legitimate National Chairman of the party.
The demonstration in Abuja follows a separate protest by the main faction led by Senator David Mark, which, only days ago, visited the commission alongside other party heavyweights.
Joining Gombe at the commission’s gates was Hon. Leke Abejide, the ADC member representing the Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Furthermore, a significant number of members from the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) arrived to bolster the protest.
“We are here to ensure that the will of the party members is not subverted by those who want to take the back door,” Gombe alleged during the demonstration.
“INEC must recognize the authentic leadership that has the backing of the grassroots and our elected officials,” he stated.
The internal rift has created two or three distinct camps, each claiming to hold the legal mandate to steer the party’s affairs.
Leadership Tussle and the Battle for Recognition
The ADC, known as the opposition coalition, is now caught in a structural deadlock that threatens its participation in future electoral activities.
Consequently, the Gombe-led group alleged that the rival faction is attempting to bypass the party’s established internal democratic processes.
Mark’s group hit back, alleging Gombe is only being used by the ruling party to sow discord in the opposition ranks, and even provide the excuse to be ousted from participating in next year’s general election.
Meanwhile, Hon. Leke Abejide, a key financier and leader within the party, claimed that his presence was a testament to the legitimacy of the Gombe faction.
“The party belongs to the people, and we will not allow any faction to use influence to overshadow the law,” the lawmaker stated.
“We have submitted all necessary documents to prove that our convention followed the ₦0 cost of integrity and due process,” he added.
Furthermore, the protesters remained at the INEC entrance for several hours, demanding an audience with the commission’s leadership to present their grievances.
Youth Involvement and Procedural Disputes
The presence of the National Youth Council of Nigeria added a new dimension to the protest, as youth leaders alleged that the party’s future depends on a stable chairmanship.
“The youth wing is the backbone of the ADC, and we are tired of these constant leadership shifts,” one NYCN member stated.
“We stand with Nafiu Bala Gombe because his leadership has shown a commitment to inclusive growth,” he added.
However, INEC insists that it was complying with a federal court ruling to delist and de-recognise both factional leaders as the legitimate leaders of the party.
Furthermore, the 100% focus on this leadership dispute may delay the party’s ability to conduct primary elections for upcoming off-cycle polls.
Meanwhile, security personnel at the INEC headquarters monitored the demonstration to ensure that it did not clash with other groups.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
