If Nafiu Bala hinders ADC progress, it’ll be serious problem for him, Kwankwaso reportedly says
“He should recognise that millions of people have registered; a party that was once small has grown significantly because prominent leaders joined with a mission to do what is right for this country. If he continues to stand in the way of that progress, it will become a very serious problem for him,” he said.
A former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has warned Nafiu Bala, a factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), that continued actions capable of obstructing the party’s progress could have serious consequences.
Kwankwaso issued the warning in an interview with DCL Hausa, amid the lingering leadership crisis within the opposition party.
“He should recognise that millions of people have registered; a party that was once small has grown significantly because prominent leaders joined with a mission to do what is right for this country. If he continues to stand in the way of that progress, it will become a very serious problem for him,” he said.
The ADC has been enmeshed in internal disputes since July 2025, when an opposition coalition took over its leadership, with Bala and a rival faction led by former Senate President David Mark both laying claim to the party’s structure. The crisis later escalated into legal battles, leading the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise both factions.
Kwankwaso disclosed that he had attempted to resolve the dispute by inviting Bala for a meeting, but the factional chairman failed to attend.
“We had scheduled to meet yesterday, but despite waiting until morning, he did not show up. I had been warned he wouldn’t come, and his absence is truly disappointing,” he said.
He warned that Bala’s actions could undermine both the party and the country’s democratic process.
“In our current national situation, our party and our democracy do not need someone acting like ‘the lizard at the mouth of the water pot’,” Kwankwaso said.
Describing Bala as a young politician who requires guidance, Kwankwaso added: “Given that he was born in 1990, he is a youth who still needs guidance. His current actions are not only detrimental to his own future but also to the ADC and Nigerian democracy as a whole.”
The former governor called on stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and Bala’s family, to intervene and advise him appropriately.
“This is a serious matter, and he must realize his mistakes so that we can resolve this,” he added.
