Fresh Video Confirms Nafiu Bala’s Presence at David Mark-Led ADC Leadership Unveiling

A newly surfaced video has confirmed that Nafiu Bala was present at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) event where an interim leadership led by David Mark was unveiled in July 2025.

The footage, now circulating on social media, shows Bala seated among party stakeholders at the event, which took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. He is seen in the same row as Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party.

TheCable confirmed the authenticity of the video through multiple attendees who were present at the unveiling. An earlier report by the publication had also referenced Bala’s attendance, citing a July 2, 2025 video shared by Symfoni on YouTube.

At the event, Lauretta Onochie introduced Bala as the ADC deputy national chairman (intergovernmental affairs). He briefly stood to acknowledge the introduction. The programme was co-moderated by Dino Melaye.

Speaking at the gathering, Ralph Nwosu said the party’s national executive council and national working committee had stepped down to allow Mark to assume office as interim national chairman.

The emergence of the new video further confirms Bala’s presence at the unveiling, which has become a focal point in the ongoing leadership dispute within the party.

Bala later declared himself national chairman of the ADC on July 30, 2025, less than a month after the event. At a press conference in Abuja, he rejected the Mark-led leadership, alleging that it violated the party’s constitution and amounted to an unlawful takeover.

He also denied resigning from his position as deputy national chairman, describing claims of his resignation as false and insisting that loyal party members would challenge the leadership arrangement in court.

On September 2, 2025, Bala filed a suit at the federal high court in Abuja seeking to restrain the Mark-led executives from parading themselves as leaders of the party. He also asked the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising them and to affirm him as acting national chairman.

The presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, subsequently directed all parties to be put on notice to respond to the application. Dissatisfied with the proceedings, Mark approached the court of appeal to challenge the jurisdiction of the federal high court.

However, on March 12, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Uchechukwu Onyemenam dismissed the appeal, ruling that it lacked merit. The court held that there had been no substantive ruling at the lower court and directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending further proceedings.

Following the appellate decision, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that it would no longer recognise either faction of the ADC leadership. The commission said it would refrain from engaging with both groups until the federal high court delivers a final judgment on the matter.

The Mark-led faction has rejected the commission’s position, alleging that the move is intended to prevent the party from participating in the 2027 general election.