2 days after Tinubu’s spokesman posted him as “National Chairman of ADC”, Nafiu Bala Gombe reportedly goes into hiding

*ADC Vanguard reveals how Tinubu government bribed him with N2b to destabilise own party

*Dismisses report of change in ADC leadership as Fake News

By OUR REPORTER, Abuja

Report reaching The DEFENDER from the Nigeria”s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, says Nafiu Bala Gombe has gone into hiding.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recently delisted Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) citing a Court of Appeal ruling that many legal aspect have said did not give such order that the Chairman of Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, cited in the decision.

Watchers of events and leaders of the ADC have said the sudden crisis brewing within the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria as the general elections of 2027 are 10 months away, no doubt, have the hand of the acclaimed master strategist and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so for him to be the only contester who will be on the ballot for the coming presidential election in February 2027, thus launching the final burial of true democracy, transparent and accountable governance in the country.

ADC Vanguard’s presentation of a post by @IkeGod_ on X handle had related on Sunday April 5, 2026 that Nafiu Bala Gombe, on whose unjustified and unresolved court suit the INEC acted upon to make such sensitive decision of delisting leaders of the most vibrant opposition party, has gone into hiding.

That was coming two days after the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, posted his portrait as the National Chairman of the ADC, contrary to the expectation of ‘status quo’ pronounced by the court which means that things in the party should be left as they were with David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

According to the post, Nafiu Bala Gombe allegedly collected money from Tinubu’s government officials to carry out the hatchet job of helping the destroy the very part of which he was not only Deputy National Chairman until his voluntary resignation last year but also was party to how the party’s control was ceded to its current leadership for an enabled reorganisation to prepare it for winning and unseating Tinubu from office during the coming election.

“BREAKING: Intels from highly impeccable sources in Abuja indicate that Nafiu Bala Gombe, who allegedly collected N2billion from senior officials of the Tinubu regime to destabilize the main opposition ADC is currently in hiding.

“This is even as a top chieftain of the ADC, disclosed this morning that the party will be returning to the Justice Emeka Nwite Federal High Court after the Easter holidays on Tuesday, April 7, 2027.

“In line with the recommendations of erudite legal minds like @InibeheEffiong, @AbdulMahmud01, and my humble self, the top ADC chieftain disclosed that the party’s leadership will among other things be asking Justice Nwite to summarily dismiss the suit brought to his court by Gombe for lack of jurisdiction to entertain any suit or matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party, citing relevant Supreme Court rulings, and in particular, Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026,” the post said.

In another post by the ADC Vanguard, an X account of the ADC mobilisation wing, it alleged that Gombe was bribed by APC to cause problem where it was not in the African Democratic Congress.

“BREAKING: Details have emerged on how Tinubu’s APC allegedly bribed Nafiu Bala with N2 billion in a bid to force a one-party system in Nigeria.

“Fresh intelligence from credible sources in Abuja reveals that Nafiu Bala Gombe is reportedly in hiding after allegedly receiving N2 billion from top officials within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to destabilize the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“In a swift response, a senior figure within the ADC confirmed this morning that the party will return to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, immediately after the Easter holidays on Tuesday, April 7, 2027.

“According to the party leadership, ADC will formally request the court to dismiss the suit filed by Gombe, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction over internal party matters. The move is backed by respected legal voices such as Inibehe Effiong and Abdul Mahmud, who maintain that the case contradicts established Supreme Court rulings and violates Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026.

“This development signals a major legal and political showdown that could shape the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.”

In the meantime, the ADC Vanguard has said the report circulating on social media about purported change in the leadership of ADC is fake news.