By Adesakin Adefemi
Nafiu Bala, ex-deputy national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has announced that individuals above 55 years will not be eligible to contest for office under his leadership. Bala, who is laying claim to the party’s leadership, made the statement during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, citing the need to give younger Nigerians a chance to lead.
The policy is part of Bala’s plan to reposition the party and Nigeria’s leadership structure. “It is time to show these elders, some of whom are between 75 and 90 years old, that the era of the youth has arrived,” he said. The move has sparked a leadership row within the party.
Bala insists that some politicians claiming to be leaders of the party are not legitimate members. “People who are not even members of our party are claiming leadership,” he said, referencing Article 9 of the party’s constitution. He emphasized that one cannot simply receive a membership card at an event and be declared a leader.
The controversy follows a botched meeting with Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano. Kwankwaso had invited Bala to discuss resolving the impasse, but Bala failed to attend. Bala dismissed reports of the meeting, saying he was not a person who could be summoned to a private residence on a whim.
Bala has also alleged that some party members have disrespected him, referring to him as a “small boy” and a “son of nobody”. He claims the courts have ruled in his favor in the leadership dispute, with the court directing INEC to remove the names of his opponents and cease communication with them.
The judiciary has already spoken, Bala said, adding that his opponents had appealed the case but were unsuccessful. “The court dismissed their appeal and fined them N2 million,” he added.
Bala is overseeing preparations for the upcoming elections and aims to lead the ADC to victory at both the gubernatorial and presidential levels. His goal is to reposition the party and bring about change in Nigeria’s leadership structure.
The ADC crisis has sparked concerns about the party’s future and its ability to effectively challenge the current administration. As the party navigates this challenging period, Bala’s leadership and vision will be put to the test.
The outcome of this leadership row will have significant implications for the party’s performance in the 2027 elections and beyond.
