Negotiate with Bala Gombe to resolve crisis, Aborisade tells Atiku, David Mark, ADC

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Chief Niyi Aborisade, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark and other party leaders to negotiate with Nafiu Bala Gombe to resolve the party’s leadership crisis and prevent further uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It would be recalled that a Federal High Court had declared Bala Gombe the rightful National Chairman of the ADC, nullified the David Mark-led leadership and voided actions taken by Mark in that capacity.

Aborisade, a lawyer and human rights activist, said dialogue and effective conflict management remained the best options for resolving the disagreements within the party, warning that prolonged litigation could undermine its preparations for the forthcoming elections.

He made the appeal while reacting to the recent court judgment concerning the ADC leadership dispute, which he said could have far-reaching implications for decisions and activities undertaken under the leadership of Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Aborisade, however, clarified that he had yet to obtain the full judgment and was speaking based on media reports of the court’s decision.

He said the reports suggested that the court had granted the reliefs sought by Gombe, including recognition as the party’s national chairman and the nullification of actions taken under the Mark-led leadership.

According to him, if the reports accurately reflected the court’s decision, the judgment could affect the party’s primaries and the emergence of candidates for various elective positions.

He said, “If what I read in the news is correct, then there is a serious implication for ADC. It means all the primaries conducted under David Mark and Aregbesola could be affected.

“In that case, it is likely that a new election may be necessary, unless we reach an agreement with Bala Gombe.”

The ADC chieftain said although the party was entitled to appeal the judgment, the limited time before the elections made an amicable settlement imperative.

He added that an appeal could prolong uncertainty without guaranteeing a favourable outcome for the party.

“My fear is this: the election is in the next two months. Can we afford a long process of appeal and uncertainty? Even if we appeal, there is no certainty that our side will win.

“The best thing for me is to start negotiating with Gombe and see if there is a way forward,” he said.

Aborisade stressed that Gombe should not be regarded as an enemy, urging party leaders to identify his grievances and engage him in discussions aimed at resolving the crisis.

He said the party needed effective conflict-management mechanisms to prevent internal disagreements from undermining its political prospects.

“One of the things lacking in our party, and in Nigeria generally, is the ability to manage conflict. There is an issue, and we can still manage that conflict. Gombe should not be seen as an enemy. Maybe his claim is right, but we can call him and let the leaders speak to him to resolve this crisis,” he said.

On the leadership dispute in Oyo State, Aborisade said a separate ruling delivered by a High Court in Ibadan on Tuesday had, in his interpretation, vindicated the faction led by Olona, to which he belongs.

He argued that the ruling established the legitimacy of the faction that organised the party’s primary election on May 22, 2026, which produced candidates, including Gbemileke Alagbe and himself.

Aborisade, who said he came second in the contest in which Alagbe emerged first, maintained that the judgment should guide the party’s decision on the candidates to be recognised and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He contended that the names of Alagbe and himself should be forwarded to INEC, while the candidacy of Adegboyega Adegoke, who emerged from another faction’s process, should be reconsidered.

He said the two court decisions, as he understood them, had implications for the recognition of party leadership and candidates in the state.

Asked whether he was prepared to negotiate with Adegoke, Aborisade said he had consistently advocated dialogue and reconciliation, adding that all stakeholders should be brought together to build a united party.

He described Adegoke as an important member of the ADC and said the party could not afford to remain divided.

“We want everybody to come on board. We want our party unified; we want a united party. We don’t want a divided party, and Adegoke himself is a strong man in our party. We want to speak with him, settle the rift and resolve the issue,” he said.

Aborisade urged ADC leaders to prioritise the party’s collective interest above factional considerations, saying reconciliation would help strengthen its preparations for the 2027 elections.