Every Path Of Falsehood Has Expiration Date, God Has Exposed Them — Nafiu Bala Reacts To Court Sacking Mark-Led ADC

Nafiu Bala Gombe, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has reacted to Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment that sacked the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party, describing it as a vindication of truth and constitutional order.

Speaking in an interview with DW Hausa after the judgment, Bala said he thanked God for the ruling, stressing that Allah had reaffirmed the truth as promised.

“Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. My name is Nafiu Bala from Gombe, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress. This judgment delivered in our favor is something we thank God for. Today, Allah has reaffirmed the truth, just as He promised: the truth is the truth, and falsehood is falsehood,” he said.

“These people came with the intention to oppress us, and indeed they oppressed us and violated our rights. But today, Allah has vindicated the truth.”

Bala maintained that he was the legitimate Deputy National Chairman of the party before the former National Chairman resigned and left his position. He said the Nigerian Constitution clearly dictates how leadership transition works, that whenever a leader steps down, their deputy steps into the position.

He said when the Mark-led group came after the chairman stepped down, they claimed — not even recognising him as a member of the ADC — that he had been expelled.

“We do not even know where they emerged from. I presented our constitution, and the court interpreted it in our favor. That is what happened,” Bala said.

“Every path of falsehood has an expiration date; today, Allah has exposed them and affirmed my leadership. By the grace of God, we will continue running the party’s affairs, and all our nominated candidates will participate in the elections as provided by the law.”

On the electoral timeline and the fact that INEC had already closed the window for submitting candidate lists, Bala said the court order addressed the issue.

He said ever since the other faction came contesting against them and violating the rights of genuine ADC members, his group maintained patience. Now that the court has delivered its ruling, he said it has proved that their path was built on falsehood, and they have failed.

“The court has directed INEC to utilize the list of candidates we submitted — the genuine members of the ADC — as the legitimate candidates, and to discard whatever lists were submitted by the other side,” he said.

Bala dismissed suggestions that the opposition faction might suffer losses in the 2027 elections. He said by the grace of God, his faction will not suffer losses, they will.

He criticised the other faction for going to Sokoto using the ADC name to incite Nigerians, telling them that the upcoming election is a do-or-die affair, a matter of life and death. He said the person who made that statement has a son who is deeply involved, constantly campaigning for the government, and has vowed to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This seat they are desperately seeking is built on hypocrisy,” he said.

On whether he would welcome reconciliation and possibly swap his candidates for theirs if they now follow due process, Bala said he is not a child, and this is neither child’s play nor a theatrical performance.

“When it was time for them to come and follow due process, they refused. Instead, they were busy partying and boasting that they had hijacked the party leadership and could do as they pleased. The pen of the judge has dried; everything has its proper time. They called our nominated candidates fake, but today, truth has prevailed. If they have a genuine desire for the ADC, they should go register at their respective wards, follow our constitutional guidelines, and wait for 2027,” he said.

On allegations that the government is backing and sponsoring his faction, Bala said in a democracy, you cannot stop people from exercising their freedom of speech.

“But the entire world knows that this party belongs to us. We have tried every avenue to urge them to follow due process — appealing to them both publicly and face-to-face — but they refused. Naturally, opponents will say whatever they believe will undermine their rivals,” he said.

Bala also dismissed claims that the Mark and Atiku faction is drawing massive crowds.

“There are no massive crowds. If you look closely, their alliance is built on thuggery. Go and ask Atiku: why didn’t his own son join him? Where is his son? He is sitting comfortably right inside his own house!” he said.

On the Atiku faction’s statement warning that the judge’s ruling could plunge Nigeria into crisis and describing the election as do-or-die, Bala said the judges they took their case to are the very same judicial authorities whose decisions these individuals previously took all the way to the Supreme Court.

He said when his group challenged them to follow due process, they claimed the court lacked jurisdiction. Yet, he said, the Supreme Court reviewed the merits of the case and told them to retrace their steps.

“How can they claim to be ADC members while violating our constitution? Their statements amount to insults and contempt of the judiciary. They think they are above everyone else, but Allah is greater than them. It is up to them: they can either follow due process or — if they choose — go back to the PDP or create a brand-new party. By the grace of God, if we reach 2031 alive and well, perhaps they can come back and we will face each other at the polls then,” he said.

On the threat by the other faction to appeal the judgment, Bala said he is not afraid they might win on appeal.

“I assure you, we spent two grueling years battling this legal case. They can even take it to the United Nations if they want; after all, they already dragged this case all the way to the Supreme Court! Let them go and see what comes of trying to undermine the judiciary. They are simply wasting their time. They should either go register and follow the rules if they want to be part of the party, or leave. That choice is entirely up to them,” he said.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday sacked the Senator David Mark-led executives of the ADC and invalidated all actions they took on behalf of the party, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The court found merit in the suit by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the former National Deputy Chairman, North-East, who argued that with the resignation of former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was qualified to assume the party’s leadership.

The ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.