ABUJA, NIGERIA — The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a fresh twist as Senator Ishaku Abbo, representing Adamawa North, has alleged that internal betrayal and external political interference are at the heart of the party’s deepening leadership turmoil.

The controversy comes amid a decisive move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which recently announced it would no longer recognise factions led by former Senate President David Mark and Nafiu Bala. The electoral body cited a Court of Appeal judgment and ongoing litigation as reasons for its stance, effectively escalating the party’s internal conflict.

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In a detailed Facebook post, Abbo traced the origin of the crisis to a leadership transition within the party, claiming that Nafiu Bala and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) had voluntarily stepped aside to pave the way for a new leadership structure.

According to him, Bala was present during the emergence of the new leadership at the Yar’Adua Centre, where David Mark reportedly assumed the role of national chairman while Rauf Aregbesola became national secretary.

“If you check the picture below, the man sitting before me is Nafiu Bala. He was there clapping and cheering as David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola took over,” Abbo stated.

Broken Agreements and Rising Tension

The senator further revealed that there was an internal agreement 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 explained.

However, Abbo alleged that the agreement was breached. He claimed Bala was initially promised the position of National Vice Chairman (North-East), but the role was later given to former SGF, Babachir David Lawal.

“The new leadership reneged on the earlier agreement… and instead installed Babachir Lawal,” Abbo alleged.

He added that Bala rejected an alternative offer and subsequently began actions that intensified the crisis.

In a more serious claim, Abbo alleged that powerful political actors — including a sitting governor and a former minister — are backing legal battles against the party, further destabilising its structure.

Though he did not mention names, the allegation raises concerns about possible external influence in opposition party affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmaker urged Nafiu Bala to withdraw ongoing court cases and embrace reconciliation in the interest of the party’s survival. He also called on INEC to reconsider its decision, warning that the situation could spiral into wider political consequences if not urgently addressed.

Political analysts say the ADC crisis could weaken opposition coordination at a critical time when parties are positioning ahead of the next general elections. With INEC’s recognition hanging in the balance and factions battling in court, the party risks losing credibility among voters.

As legal proceedings continue and internal negotiations remain uncertain, attention is now on whether party stakeholders can broker peace or if the ADC will fracture further.

INEC’s final stance, alongside court rulings, is expected to play a decisive role in determining the party’s future structure.