As leadership tussles continue to rock the African Democratic Congress (ADC), some principal officers and coalition leaders within the party are reportedly considering a return to the newly approved All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a more stable political platform.
Sources within the opposition coalition told DAILY GAZETTE that ongoing litigation involving the current David Mark-led ADC leadership could jeopardize the party’s prospects in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
At the heart of the crisis is a legal challenge brought by Nafi’u Bala, the ADC’s Deputy National Chairman, who is contesting the legitimacy of the current leadership.
Bala filed a case at the Federal High Court, seeking to nullify the appointments of David Mark as interim chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as interim secretary.
Bala argues that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu on July 2, 2025, he should have automatically assumed the chairmanship.
He asked the court to bar Mark and Aregbesola from acting as party leaders.
On September 4, 2025, Justice Emeka Nwite declined Bala’s request for an ex-parte order, instead directing that all parties be served and appear in court to defend their positions.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2025.
The crisis has prompted renewed interest in ADA, one of 14 political associations recently approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to proceed with registration.
Coalition leaders had applied to register ADA back in June, anticipating potential conflicts over control of ADC.
The formation of ADA was initially proposed by a coalition that includes Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Southern political leaders, as well as the League of Northern Democrats.
The Rotimi Amaechi-led New Platform Committee recommended ADA as the coalition’s base, submitting its application to INEC on June 19.
Although INEC initially flagged issues with the application, the commission gave final approval three months later.
A senior coalition member told DAILY GAZETTE that ADA remains a backup plan should the crisis in ADC worsen:
“ADA was our first approach to have a reliable platform, which was why we constituted Amaechi’s committee. The alternative then was to look for an existing political party. I would say the pressure we put on INEC then yielded the approval of the ADA.”
He added “If the court rules against the David Mark-led ADC executive, we will fight it until we complete all ADA processes, then move into the party. Like I always say, the coalition is bigger than the ADC.”
According to him, discussions are already underway regarding a potential migration to ADA especially as the coalition expects additional members from the PDP after its convention in November.
“A full-fledged alliance would come after the PDP members join the coalition. It is something bigger, and that is why moving out of ADC is also possible. ADA is a broader platform for now.”
Another high-ranking member of the ADC confirmed that while informal talks have taken place regarding a possible move to ADA, no formal decision has been made:
“I don’t think we have reached that stage yet. We haven’t discussed it as a group. But certainly, I know it is a matter that everybody within the party and the coalition is talking about.”
He acknowledged frustration over the ongoing crisis but stressed that the final decision will rest with the coalition:
“We’ve invested so much in ADC, not just financially, but in terms of time and energy. But as far as many of us are concerned, whatever the coalition decides is what we’re going to do.”
Another senior official emphasized that ADA was always the coalition’s original plan:
“We own the ADA, and it is even a broader platform because all the stakeholders in the coalition approved it as our original party. ADC was then an alternative. But now that the ADA has sailed through… we may leave ADC if the ongoing litigation threatens our agenda.”
A former minister also confirmed the possibility:
“If we see that unexpected things are about to happen in ADC, we will migrate to ADA.”
However, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi denied any such plans, insisting the coalition remains committed to the ADC for now:
“There is nothing like moving to ADA. There is no doubt that the coalition owns the party, but there’s not yet a reason to migrate.”
