Factional Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Hon. Nafiu Bala, has dismissed reports of his resignation, describing a letter circulating to that effect as a fraudulent fabrication orchestrated by politically motivated actors intent on destabilising the party.
In a statement released on Sunday by Dr. Christopher Okechukwu, Director of Media and Public Affairs in the Office of the National Chairman, Bala refuted the authenticity of the document dated May 18, 2025.
He clarified that the letter was neither written nor signed by him and lacked any official ADC insignia or letterhead.
According to the statement, Bala remains in office as Acting National Chairman and continues to lead the party in accordance with the procedures outlined in its constitution.
The statement described the alleged resignation as a desperate ploy engineered by disgruntled elements seeking to seize control of the party’s structure.
“The National Leadership of the African Democratic Congress under the legitimate and constitutionally recognized Acting National Chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala, hereby issues this statement to categorically deny the existence of any legitimate resignation letter from Hon. Nafiu Bala and to expose the malicious plot engineered by former National Chairman Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and a coalition of power-seeking elements attempting to hijack the party’s structures through undemocratic means,” said Okechukwu.
He continued: “The ADC emphatically denies the authenticity of a resignation letter purportedly authored by Hon. Nafiu Bala and dated May 18, 2025. This document is entirely fabricated, fraudulent, and maliciously circulated by certain mischievous elements within and outside our party seeking to undermine the ADC’s constitutional leadership and sow discord among our members.”
“Hon. Nafiu Bala has not at any time resigned from his position as Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, nor has he relinquished his leadership role following the legitimate transition processes outlined in the party constitution. The fraudulent document, which lacks official party letterhead, emblems, or insignia, represents a desperate attempt to create confusion and destabilise the party’s operations,” he added.
Okechukwu reaffirmed the party’s commitment to internal democracy and constitutional procedures, outlining the rules guiding leadership transitions.
“Constitutional Leadership Transition Process: The ADC affirms that according to our constitution, any individual seeking to assume a leadership position must be a registered member of the party for at least one year and maintain current financial obligations and membership status as well as follow due process in leadership transitions,” he said.
The statement further accused former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, alongside unnamed external political actors, of attempting to bypass constitutional guidelines by submitting unauthorised documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including the fake resignation letter.
“This group has attempted to submit unauthorised documentation to the Independent National Electoral Commission, including the fabricated resignation letter, as part of a broader scheme to undermine the ADC’s legitimate leadership and impose unelected officials who do not meet constitutional requirements for party leadership,” Okechukwu alleged.
He called on INEC to reject any materials not originating from the Bala-led leadership and urged party members to remain vigilant in the face of misinformation.
“The African Democratic Congress calls upon INEC to reject any unauthorised documentation and recognise only the legitimate leadership under Hon. Nafiu Bala. Party members nationwide are to remain vigilant against misinformation campaigns,” he stated.
He also urged law enforcement agencies to launch investigations into the attempted subversion of the party’s internal democratic processes.
“The general public is to disregard false claims about party leadership changes. Law enforcement agencies are to investigate this attempt to undermine democratic processes. The African Democratic Congress under Hon. Nafiu Bala’s leadership remains the legitimate, constitutionally-recognised platform committed to Nigeria’s democratic development.”
