Two notable figures at the centre of the crisis rocking the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu, the party’s pioneer National Chairman, and Nafiu Bala, who is laying claim to the chairmanship have both denied collecting money from any individual or group to either sell off or destabilise the party.
There have been insinuations and allegations in the public space that Chief Nwosu received huge sums of money before handing over the party structure to the Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola-led National Working Committee.
Similar allegations have also been levelled against Nafiu Bala Gombe, accusing him of being sponsored by the ruling party and its agents to destabilise the ADC and slow its momentum.

The ADC is currently locked in a legal tussle with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a court order for its restoration on the commission’s official portal.
INEC had removed the leadership of the ADC led by Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, citing an Appeal Court pronouncement directing that status quo ante bellum be maintained.
Speaking with The Guardian, Chief Nwosu denied the allegations, stating:
“This only shows that the incumbent government led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party are desperate, and that is most unfortunate.

“It is even more unfortunate that people who claim they fought the military and for democracy have now become more dictatorial. Anybody who knows me knows I am not a transactional politician. I have been involved in politics before 1999, and all I have cared about is seeing a great country.”
He added: “The ADC has a peculiar DNA, and our values and beliefs are impeccable. For anybody to talk about money, that person does not understand ADC, because money has no place in our operations.”
Nwosu recalled that in 2018, former President Olusegun Obasanjo invited him and some party executives to use the ADC platform for a political coalition to be led by former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, citing his integrity.

“Anybody can ask Obasanjo—from the time we first discussed till now—if he has ever given me a dime. Yet, I completely submitted the party to him.
“What drives me in politics is to eradicate money politics and thuggery, which are pushing many people out of the system. I had money before I joined politics. I came into this as a mission to help change the country.”
He further stated that in 2023, the ADC openly supported the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“We did so openly, despite offers of huge sums of money from other parties to endorse them. We were also among the parties that protested the 2023 election results without any financial inducement.
“There was free money for those willing to endorse what was happening, but no one in ADC accepted it. So, to be clear, no money exchanged hands.”
On his part, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is believed to have triggered the current crisis in the party, also denied being motivated by money or personal grievances.

He told The Guardian: “I am not driven by personal grievances or agendas. My concern stems from the apparent breach of our party’s constitution, specifically Articles 8(2) and 9(4), regarding membership and eligibility to hold party positions.
“Senator David Mark and his coalition members’ induction into the party raises serious questions about their eligibility.”
He explained that on July 2, 2025, Chief Nwosu announced his resignation at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, issued party membership cards to Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, and appointed them as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

“This process appears to contravene our party’s constitution,” he said.
Responding to questions about why he approached the court after attending meetings where the decisions were made, Nafiu Bala said:
“I am not sure which specific meeting you are referring to. However, I attended several meetings from April 2024 to July 2, 2025 regarding coalition members. These meetings led to the events of July 2, 2025, which I believe were not in line with our party’s rules.”
He added that he was unaware of any financial transactions: “I cannot confirm whether money exchanged hands. What I do know is that the process that led to the emergence of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola was not in line with our party’s constitution, particularly Articles 8(2) and 9(4).”
On the delay in filing the case, he explained:

“We intended to approach the court in July 2025 when we noticed the breach, but Federal High Court judges were on their annual vacation. They resumed in September, so we filed the suit on September 2, 2025.”
He added that the matter was first heard on September 4, 2025, when the trial judge ordered Mark and four others to appear and show cause why the court should not grant the application.

Speaking on the reliefs sought, he said:
“We prayed for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, and their associates, from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC or interfering in the party’s affairs pending the determination of the suit.
“We also sought an order restraining INEC from recognising them in those capacities pending the hearing of the motion on notice.”