Nigeria’s opposition politics took another dramatic turn on Thursday as a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) staged a protest in Abuja, deepening the party’s already tense internal leadership crisis.
The demonstration was reportedly led by Nafiu Bala, the factional national chairman from Gombe State, who accused top opposition figures of trying to hijack the party’s structure for their own political interests. Among those Bala called out were former Senate President David Mark, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra governor Peter Obi, and former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to reports, Bala and his supporters marched through parts of Abuja with placards and chants demanding that what they described as “political marauders” should leave the party alone. The protest also featured ADC House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, who joined Bala in showing support for the faction’s claim to the party’s leadership.
The latest protest is widely seen as a direct response to a separate demonstration held just a day earlier by the David Mark-led faction of the ADC. That earlier protest drew several heavyweight opposition figures, including Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, and other coalition leaders, who accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias and political interference in the party’s affairs.
At the center of the crisis is a bitter leadership struggle over who legitimately controls the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections. While David Mark has been widely recognized by a powerful coalition bloc within the party, Nafiu Bala has continued to insist that his faction remains the authentic leadership.
The dispute worsened after INEC reportedly withdrew recognition of the Mark-led leadership pending the outcome of legal proceedings. That development triggered outrage among opposition leaders, who say the move could weaken the ADC’s ability to serve as a credible platform for challenging the ruling APC in 2027.
Thursday’s counter-protest now underscores how fractured the ADC has become at a time when many Nigerians expected the party to consolidate as a major opposition force.
What was once being projected as a broad coalition platform is now facing a serious internal test — one that could determine whether the ADC emerges stronger or collapses under the weight of competing ambitions.
For many observers, the unfolding drama is another reminder that in Nigerian politics, coalition talks are often easier than coalition management.
As the protests continue and court cases linger, one thing is clear: the ADC’s internal battle is no longer just a party affair — it is shaping up to be one of the defining political stories on the road to 2027.
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