Senator Ishaku Abbo, representing Adamawa North, has attributed the deepening leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to alleged betrayal, internal disagreements, and external interference.

 

The crisis escalated on Wednesday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced it would no longer recognise factions of the party led by former Senate President David Mark and Nafiu Bala.

 

In a statement signed by Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, the electoral body said its decision was based on a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal. The commission added that it would refrain from engaging with either faction, including participation in meetings, congresses, or conventions, pending the outcome of a case before the Federal High Court.

 

Reacting via his verified Facebook page on Saturday, Abbo traced the origins of the crisis to the resignation of Bala and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which paved the way for a new leadership under David Mark.

 

“If you check the picture below, the man sitting before me is Nafiu Bala. He was at the Yar’Adua Centre clapping and cheering as David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola took over as national chairman and secretary respectively,” Abbo said.

 

According to the senator, an agreement had been reached to distribute party positions across geopolitical zones to accommodate members of the legacy structure.

 

“The agreement made with the legacy party was to cede certain positions to them from each geopolitical zone so that they can be part of the larger ADC,” he said.

 

Abbo explained that Bala was to be appointed as National Vice Chairman for the North-East, a role he described as lower than Bala’s previous position as Deputy National Chairman.

 

However, he alleged that the Mark-led leadership failed to honour the agreement.

 

“During the formation of the David Mark-led NWC, the new leadership reneged on the earlier agreement to make Bala National Vice Chairman North-East and instead installed Babachir David Lawal in the position,” he claimed.

 

He further disclosed that Bala rejected an alternative offer of Zonal Financial Secretary, a development he said worsened tensions within the party.

 

“At this point, he started plotting how to bring the whole roof down,” Abbo alleged.

 

The lawmaker also claimed that unnamed political actors—including a serving governor and a former minister—were backing legal actions against the party, further complicating efforts to resolve the crisis.

 

Abbo called on Bala to withdraw the ongoing court case and embrace dialogue in the interest of party unity. He also urged INEC to reconsider its stance, warning that prolonged non-recognition of party leadership could have broader political consequences.

 

The ADC crisis continues to raise concerns among political observers, particularly as parties begin early positioning ahead of future electoral contests.