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Ralph Nwosu, former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has alleged that Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who previously struggled to afford transportation to attend meetings, now moves around in bulletproof sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Nwosu made the allegation while speaking about the lingering leadership crisis in the opposition party, claiming that Bala frequently depended on financial assistance from party leaders to attend meetings in Abuja.
According to him, he sometimes had to send Bala money to cover his transportation expenses, adding that the former deputy national chairman would occasionally require additional financial support to return home after meetings.
Nwosu said Bala could not attend meetings unless he received money for transportation, recalling that he sometimes provided as much as N150,000 to facilitate his journeys.
He alleged that Bala’s lifestyle changed significantly after he instituted legal proceedings challenging the leadership arrangement that produced the David Mark-led faction of the ADC.
The former party chairman claimed that Bala subsequently began staying in an expensive hotel, moving with security personnel and using multiple bulletproof SUVs.
He further alleged that Bala acquired more than three bulletproof vehicles after the party’s leadership dispute escalated in September.
Nwosu, however, acknowledged that Bala might have obtained the vehicles for security reasons but questioned the reported cost, suggesting that some of the SUVs could be worth more than N500 million each.
The former ADC chairman also alleged that the leadership crisis rocking the opposition party was politically motivated, claiming that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had an interest in the party’s internal affairs.
Nwosu further claimed that recordings existed in which the President’s Chief of Staff allegedly encouraged some individuals to remain in the ADC and work towards destabilising the party.
He said the alleged recordings provided evidence of attempts to undermine the opposition party from within.
The ADC has been embroiled in a leadership dispute following the emergence of former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively, in July 2025.
Bala, who previously served as the party’s deputy national chairman, challenged the leadership arrangement in court, insisting that the process violated the ADC constitution.
He maintained that he was unaware of any agreement to appoint Mark and Aregbesola when he attended the July 2025 event, alleging that he had been invited under the impression that it was a ceremony to formally adopt the political coalition into the ADC.
The disagreement subsequently developed into a legal battle, with rival factions contesting the party’s leadership and recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bala has also rejected claims that he resigned from his position, alleging that his purported resignation letter was fabricated.
The leadership dispute has continued to generate uncertainty within the ADC as competing interests seek control of the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
