ABUJA – The leadership tussle tearing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) apart has taken a criminal turn as factional National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has sensationally claimed that the resignation letter being used to disqualify him is a “total forgery.”
Bala’s explosive denial on Friday, April 3, 2026, comes just 48 hours after INEC scrubbed the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) from its portal, citing the need to return to the status quo of the party’s leadership.
The “Fake” Resignation
The David Mark-led faction, supported by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, has repeatedly insisted that Bala resigned his position as Deputy National Chairman on May 17, 2025, and that INEC was duly notified. However, Bala has now broken his silence, labeling the document a desperate fabrication.
“I never resigned. My signature was forged by those who are desperate to hijack the party for their own selfish 2027 ambitions,” a defiant Bala stated. “I am the legitimate leader of the ADC, and no amount of ‘cut-and-paste’ documents will change that.”
The Counter-Punch from Hon. Umar Gajo Elleman
Bala’s claim of forgery flies directly in the face of the narrative pushed by other party bigwigs. Earlier today, Hon. Umar Gajo Elleman recalled meeting Bala at a coalition meeting where he reportedly identified himself only as the “Financial Secretary” of the old ADC and expressed full support for the new direction.
“He has been hijacked by criminals,” Elleman lamented, accusing the ruling APC of “taking over” Bala to create a “legal nightmare” that would prevent the opposition from fielding a presidential candidate.
INEC in the Middle
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by Professor Joash Amupitan, finds itself caught in a “he-said, she-said” crossfire. While the commission has de-listed the Mark-led faction to avoid a “Zamfara-style” disaster, the ADC’s National Secretary has branded the move as “criminal and contemptuous.”
With the ADC now vowing to ignore INEC and proceed with its ward congresses on April 9, the “forgery” allegation adds a dangerous new layer to the crisis. If the signature is proven to be fake, the Mark-led leadership could face criminal charges; if it is real, Bala’s claim to the chairmanship could evaporate instantly.
A Nation in the Dark
As the ADC leadership swaps “forgery” and “hijack” allegations, the broader political climate remains toxic. Between Governor Bala Mohammed’s “Gestapo” warnings and the ₦11 billion APC convention spending, the opposition feels it is being suffocated by a government that stays in “ten-minute” Jos airport meetings because the lights are out.
For the ADC, the “Rescue Journey” has now hit a courtroom roadblock. The big question remains: whose signature is on that paper, and who is really pulling the strings from the shadows?
