The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of backing a scheme to destabilise its structure, warning that it will resist any attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Through its spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ENigeria Newspaper gathered that the party raised the alarm over what it termed as coordinated intervention, claiming that the purported conspiracy aims to undermine its leadership and cause internal turmoil.
“The objective is clear: to manufacture confusion within the ADC, sponsor illegitimate leadership claims, and ultimately cripple the only credible opposition platform that Nigerians are increasingly looking to as a genuine alternative,” the party stated.
The spokesperson claimed that the action involves attempts to use outside pressure to install Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe, an expelled member, as national chairman while maintaining Senator David Mark as the party’s leader.
“At the centre of this scheme is Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe, an expelled member of the ADC who has recently been parading himself as a leader of the party while collaborating with external political interests,” Abdullahi said.
He continued by saying that Gombe, who had previously claimed to be the Deputy National Chairman, had been legally removed from the ADC for acting in a way that went against the party’s beliefs, its constitution, and the leadership’s collective decisions.
The party further alleged that the attempt to destabilise its structure is being “driven by an APC governor in collaboration with a senior security official based in Abuja as part of the plot to impose President Tinubu on Nigerians as the sole presidential contender in 2027.”
Questioning the motive behind the development, Abdullahi said, “We therefore wonder at the level of desperation that is driving these anti-democratic forces to continue in their sinister efforts to impose expelled individuals on the party or manipulate its internal structures through external political pressure on judges and electoral officials.”
Reaffirming its leadership position, the ADC noted that its current structure had been validated through internal processes and recognised by relevant authorities.
He warned that attempts to interfere in opposition politics pose a broader threat to democracy.
“Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive where the ruling party seeks to capture, infiltrate, or manufacture opposition parties for its own political convenience and survival,” he said, adding that “such actions represent a dangerous assault on democratic pluralism and the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely organise and support credible political alternatives.”
Calling for public vigilance, Abdullahi urged Nigerians to disregard claims by Gombe and his supporters.
“We therefore call on the general public, party members, and democratic institutions to disregard the activities and claims of Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe and those backing his illegitimate adventure. We know them and their game plans and we will resist them by all means necessary. We will defend our democracy.”
He concluded by reaffirming the party’s resolve. “The ADC remains united, focused, and committed to building a strong democratic alternative for Nigerians. No amount of intimidation, infiltration, or political engineering will derail this mission’, he affirmed.
