ADC faction disowns ‘empty convention’ video, awaits S’Court ruling

The Nafiu Bala Gombe-led faction of the African Democratic Congress on Tuesday disowned a viral video alleging that its planned national convention in Abuja ended in embarrassment.

The video, widely circulated on social media, claimed that the “venue slated for the national convention of the Nafiu Bala-led faction” at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola International Stadium was deserted, with no delegates, officials or signs of activity at the time the event was scheduled to begin.

Footage from the clip showed an empty facility, fuelling speculation about internal disarray within the party and raising questions over the legitimacy of parallel leadership claims that have dogged the ADC in recent months.

The development comes as the Supreme Court hears the case involving the faction and the David Mark-led faction today.

Responding to the convention video, the Nafiu ADC faction dismissed it as fabricated and described it as part of a coordinated propaganda effort by political opponents.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Chief of Staff to the National Chairman, Bala Kumo, clarified that the Gombe-led leadership never announced or sanctioned any elective convention.

He said, “The said video, produced by agents of the coalition’s propaganda machinery, makes reference to a purported elective convention of the ADC allegedly conducted at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abuja.

“For purposes of clarity and to set the record straight, the ADC under the national leadership of Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe has not, at any time, issued a notice of an elective convention to its members, nor has it authorised any such gathering.”

Kumo stressed that the party remained committed to due process and the rule of law, noting that it would await the outcome of an ongoing legal matter before the Federal High Court as well as a related appeal before the Supreme Court.

“As a responsible and law-abiding political party that upholds the tenets of due process, constitutionalism, and the rule of law, the ADC shall await the determination of the suit currently pending before the Federal High Court and the related appeal before the Supreme Court. The matter has been adjourned to 22nd April 2026.

“We remain confident in the judicial process and optimistic that the judgment of the court will affirm our position.

“Upon delivery of the said judgment, the party shall, through its official and recognised channels, duly communicate the approved schedule of activities to our esteemed members and the general public,” he stated.

With the court’s verdict now imminent, attention is expected to shift to how the judgment could reshape the ADC’s internal structure and its readiness to participate in the next round of national elections.

In another development, another ADC faction backed by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, unveiled plans to hold a parallel national convention, as it distanced itself from allegations of external influence.

Kachikwu disclosed this to The PUNCH on the sidelines of a recent press conference where he disowned the just-concluded convention led by David Mark in Abuja.

He said his camp, which he described as the “real ADC,” was already making arrangements to conduct its convention and congresses at all levels.

He said, “We are carrying INEC along and communicating to let them know of our proposed dates and venue. When that has been formally done, I believe the party will communicate that to the press.

“I want you to know, I want Nigerians to know that the court order preventing the David Mark-led gang from doing anything does not affect the NEC of the party or the real ADC in any way.

“The court order was specific to David Mark’s gang and Nafiu Bala, I believe. It had nothing to do with the real ADC. So that does not stop us from doing anything with our party or concerning our conventions and congresses.”

Kachikwu also dismissed claims that his faction was being bankrolled by President Bola Tinubu, insisting that such allegations were baseless.

“I don’t see that in the Nigerian media. Maybe they were made on social media. I don’t think anybody who knows me or my antecedents would ever suggest that I’ve been bankrolled by the President.

“As a matter of fact, in my last press briefing, I alluded to the fact that President Tinubu and these geriatrics, who claim to be ADC, are working in cahoots.

“Let David Mark and others explain why they left all the other 17 or 18 parties who had no court cases and came to the ADC, which has about five litigations when they came. There’s something fishy there.

“But to answer your question clearly, the men who probably make that claim that I’m being bankrolled by the Presidency are people who don’t have a 9-to-5 job or do anything for a living.

“These are people who are trying to restore their personal economies, because all they’ve done in the last four decades is to hold public offices. Now that they are no longer in public offices, and they are finding it difficult to face reality,” he argued.

Amid the deepening divisions, Kachikwu, however, remained upbeat that the ADC would be on the 2027 ballot.

He said, “ADC is facing a very awkward path in trying to be on the ballot.

“We are approaching the courts to ensure that INEC does what is right by the ADC. The fact that people have come from the outside to try to distract our party and affect all party members who are trying to vie for political office should not affect our political fortunes.

“Just imagine what happens when about 40 or 50 people just go into any party and instigate the kind of chaos we found ourselves at the ADC, and the court says it’s the internal affairs of the party. Where will we be as a nation? We’ll have anarchy and chaos. We should not allow this to happen.”