I’ve assume office as ADC’s Ag National Chairman – Nafiu Bala

By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi

Embattled former Deputy National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala, has declared that he has officially assumed office as the Ag National Chairman of the party.

He assured that he will do everything possible to ensure that new entrants into the party led by former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar did not hijack and destroy the party before 2027.

Nafiu Bala who was speaking to Journalists in Bauchi on Monday, stated unequivocally that he remains the National Leader of the ADC in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the party following voluntary resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu.

According to him, “I am the Ag National Chairman of the ADC, there are alot of issues, some elements from the PDP, APC and even LP as well as APGA have infiltrated the ADC. Unfortunately, we welcome them and before we knew what was happening, they have hijacked the party.”

He added that,” As we were there,
Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, announced his resignation as the National Chairman of the ADC without consulting other members of the EXCO. The surprise was that, after his resignation alongside a few others from the NWC, he just picked some of those who indicated interest to join ADC and said that the National leadership now belongs to them.”

“To us, that action was unconstitutional and against the principle of the ADC. We have a working Constitution, the Electoral Act, guiding all political parties on their operations and elections at all levels, we also have Nigeria’s Constitution aa amended,” he added.

Nafiu Bala further stated that,” Going by the provisions of the ADC Constitution, I have not resigned my position as Deputy National Chairman, they chose to resign and they are free in accordance with the constitution. The ADC constitution empowers me to automatically become the Ag National Chairman of the party.”

He declared that,” As it is now, I am the authentic Ag National Chairman of the ADC, and I have since resumed the office. I am in control of the party structure at all levels in accordance with the constitution of the party. However, there some people who are not members of the ADC but parading themselves as leaders of the party.”

According to him,”They are claiming that they got the leadership of the party from Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, we are calling on them to go and follow due processes, in line with the constitution of the party. They should stop distracting us, they should go and get registered at their various Wards, obtain the ADC card before becoming authentic members.”

He stressed that,”Let them publicly tear the membership cards of their various political parties and then mingle with members of the ADC. I promise that, just as God elevated me to this position, I will relinquish it for whoever they want.”

On his expulsion from the ADC in Gombe State, Nafiu Bala declared that,”It was just a ruse as I only read it in the media, nobody has served me any such letter. In fact, on Sunday, I was in Gombe, in my Ward to meet with the stakeholders led by the Chairman, Mal Alhassan Ibrahim, they welcomed me and expressed dismay over the development. They have dissociated themselves from it because it was not true.”

“The Ward Chairman has categorically affirmed that I am a bonfide member of the ADC in the Ward and they are behind me solidly. Those we purportedly expelled me are themselves not members of the ADC because they have been expelled since,” he added.

Nafiu Bala dismissed insinuation that he once discussed with the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar over the development of the ADC, saying,”It not true and I don’t know where it is coming from, Atiku Abubakar is not a member of the ADC, why should I have discussions with him about ADC.”

According to him, “As the Ag National Chairman of the ADC, I will not go and discuss with anyone about the ADC. Atiku Abubakar is a stakeholder and member of the PDP, I am not aware that he is in the ADC. ADC is a united party, we are together, all those who did not resign are in the office working, we just conducted elections in Bauchi State in the North East zone.”

According to him,”We have addressed all those fake members, we have shown them the way out. They were the ones that destroyed PDP and now, their missions is to destroy the ADC. We will not allow them.”

He stated that, “Initially they are not members of the ADC, so, there is no need to do anything against them. We had thought they came with good intentions but we were wrong, they just want to destroy the ADC just as they did to the PDP, LP, APGA. They should follow due procedures, we will soon inform the relevant authorities to take action against them.”

On the presence of INEC during the leadership transition, he said that it did not mean that what was done was right saying that in his capacity as the Ag National Chairman of the ADC, he has communicated to the INEC of the new leadership of the ADC led by him.

Reacting to rumours that he is being sponsored by the APC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nafiu Bala dismissed it as baseless and unfounded allegations that cannot be substantiated by anyone.

He however alleged that, “I am convinced that they are agents of the Federal Government and the APC, they were paid to come and destroy ADC just as they did to PDP. I will not allow that to be.”

He then called on all card carrying members of the ADC to be watchful of the people they are relating with in order not to sell out their rights as authentic members.