A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aligned with Nafiu Bala, has firmly rejected Bolaji Abdullahi’s continued claim to the role of party spokesperson, calling it unauthorised and misleading.
In a statement released on Thursday by Dr. Christopher O. Okechukwu, Director of Media and Public Affairs for the Bala-led faction, the group warned Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports to immediately stop using the title and speaking on behalf of the party without proper authorisation.
The faction stressed that Abdullahi does not meet the requirements laid out by the party’s constitution, which include being an active member, undergoing nomination by members from all 36 states and the FCT, and being elected at a national convention.
Okechukwu insisted that these criteria are non-negotiable, and Abdullahi’s self-appointment undermines the party’s credibility.
The statement further urged media organisations to avoid recognising Abdullahi as a representative of the ADC, emphasising the importance of accuracy and integrity in political reporting.
It reiterated the faction’s commitment to transparency, rule of law, and internal democratic processes, declaring that only authorised individuals should speak on the party’s behalf.
The ongoing power struggle within the ADC escalated after Bala resumed duties as chairman at the party’s headquarters on Wednesday a move publicly dismissed by Abdullahi, who described Bala as a “charlatan.”