A fresh war of words has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as factional leader, Nafiu Bala Gombe, publicly challenged former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over the deepening leadership crisis in the party.
The ADC, which has recently attracted key opposition figures positioning against President Bola Tinubu, has been battling a prolonged leadership dispute.
The crisis has split the party into factions, with Bala’s camp and another group reportedly aligned with former Senate President, David Mark, both laying claim to the party’s leadership.
Kwankwaso, who recently moved into the ADC, had earlier expressed concern over Bala’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation meant to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Speaking during an interview with DCL Hausa, the former governor criticised Bala’s approach and suggested that the younger politician ignored what he described as guidance from a more experienced figure.
But Bala has now come out strongly in response. He dismissed the remarks about his age and rejected any attempt to belittle his role within the party.
He also questioned Kwankwaso’s intentions, accusing him of working against the party from within.
“Even if I am young, Kwankwaso has no right to look down on me,” Bala Gombe said.
He went further, alleging that the former governor’s actions raise suspicion about his loyalty to the ADC, insisting that external influence may be at play in the ongoing crisis.
Bala also clarified the controversy surrounding his age, stating clearly that he is not 35 years old as claimed but 46.
According to him, age should not be used as a tool to discredit leadership, especially in a political space where many current leaders rose to prominence at relatively young ages.
In a broader message, Bala called on older politicians to step back from active power struggles and allow younger Nigerians to take charge of party leadership and national affairs.
He argued that the future of the country depends on giving room for a new generation of leaders.
“They should allow youths to steer the affairs of our parties and the country while they play advisory roles,” he declared.
The ADC chieftain also revisited events from the 2023 elections. He recalled that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and several northern leaders had once urged Kwankwaso to step down for the sake of regional political unity.
Bala noted that Kwankwaso refused at the time, questioning his current stance in the party’s internal matters.
“Having refused to step down then, he has no moral justification to bully or advise me on the injustice being done to me by impostors in the ADC. Nobody can bully me,” Bala Gombe said.
