ADC denies any agreement to appoint Nafiu Bala Gombe as North East vice chairman...

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed claims that it reached an agreement to make Nafiu Bala Gombe the party’s North East vice chairman, insisting no such arrangement exists.

CBI News reports that ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in an interview with The PUNCH, described the claims as false and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of orchestrating the party’s leadership crisis.

“All this talk about the ADC not keeping an agreement is not true. There is no such agreement. If there were any local discussions about sharing positions in the North East, we are not aware of them,” Abdullahi said.

He further alleged external interference, stating, “It is wrong for anyone to use this as a justification to, in connivance with the APC-led government, destroy the African Democratic Congress. We believe he is being sponsored by the government to destabilise our party.”

The reaction followed comments by former lawmaker Ishaku Abbo, who attributed the ADC’s leadership crisis to betrayal and internal conflicts.

Abbo claimed the dispute began after Nafiu Bala Gombe and other members of the National Working Committee resigned alongside former chairman Ralph Nwosu to pave the way for a new leadership led by David Mark.

He alleged that an earlier agreement to allocate positions across geopolitical zones was breached when Nafiu Bala Gombe was not appointed North East vice chairman, with Babachir David Lawal instead taking the role.

However, Abdullahi maintained that the party’s national leadership had no knowledge of such an agreement and rejected its use as justification for internal disputes.

Despite the crisis, the ADC insisted it would proceed with its political activities.

“Despite this, we are moving ahead with our plans. Congresses and the convention will hold as scheduled. INEC is not a court,” Abdullahi said.