Nafi’u Bala, who recently declared himself as the interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had actually resigned from his position in the party two months earlier, a document now reveals.

A resignation letter signed by Bala himself on May 18, 2025, shows that he voluntarily stepped down from his role as the party’s Deputy National Chairman.

In the letter, he stated that his resignation was “to make way for the opposition coalition,” which has since adopted the ADC as its political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite his earlier resignation, Bala on Wednesday addressed a press conference in Abuja where he announced himself as the new leader of the party and rejected the legitimacy of the David Mark-led interim leadership.

He accused the coalition of hijacking the ADC’s structure “through unconstitutional means” and vowed to challenge what he described as the “total surrender” of the party to external forces in court.

“We wish to draw the attention of all members of our great party and Nigerians at large to the ongoing acts of political hooliganism being perpetrated by some individuals who were hitherto entrusted with the leadership of the party,” he said.

His declaration follows the July 2 formation of an opposition alliance involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and others.

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As the contest for the Osun 2026 governorship elections intensifies, two prominent political figures have come together in a significant alliance, uniting their forces to confront a shared adversary.

Their partnership signals a strategic shift, aiming to consolidate support and resources as they prepare to engage in what promises to be a fiercely competitive election.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola may have resolved their differences, as reported by Prompt News.

Governor Ademola Adeleke was openly rejected by the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Osun state following a rumour of defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

To seal his move to the ruling party, the Osun State governor visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at his private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The governor was accompanied by his elder brother, prominent businessman and philanthropist, Adedeji Adeleke as well as internationally renowned Afrobeat artiste, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

Despite holding secret meetings with top APC leaders, he was rejected due to the APC candidate who believed the party is strong enough to defeat the sitting PDP governor in 2026 governorship election in the state.

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Governor Adeleke’s desperation continues as he and the PDP party have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential race.

A fresh rumour has emerged again following the reconciliation of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Governor Adeleke after the governor’s spokesperson to issued scathing attacks on Aregbesola was reportedly cautioned, while Aregbesola loyalists were also directed to stop any further hostile engagements with the Adeleke group.

Meanwhile, according to Prompt News, top leaders in the know of the development revealed that the recent media exchanges between the two groups have been resolved with both sides agreeing not to launch media attacks against each other.

Further checks showed that the cooperation may largely be a state matter as both Adeleke and Aregbesola had a common enemy in the person of the Blue Economy Minister, Gboyega Oyetola.

A source from Adeleke’s camp revealed that the governor is ready for any deal that favour his reelection after he was rejected from APC. Following the reconciliation, the governor may likely strike a deal with the ADC leader and possible defection is imminent.

“I can tell you that governor is ready for open deal that will favour his reelection and reconciling with Aregbesola is the best shot for him. This is politics, no permanent enemy, both of them are cordial before the media attack. Adeleke knows Aregbesola’s political status in Osun.”

As things stand, the possibility of an alliance between Aregbesola and Adelekes is said to be very strong as an ongoing development.

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“As such, I find it morally and politically necessary to withdraw my membership and step away from a system that no longer reflects the aspirations of its people.

“I remain grateful to the PDP for the opportunities it afforded me to serve, lead, and grow, and I deeply cherish the relationships built over the years.”

As 2027 races heat up with many politicians making necessary transfer like the football terms, moving from PDP to APC, Labour Party To African Democratic Congress, so also is a prominent politician from Edo State.

Deacon Darlington Okpebholo Ray, the Lead Spokesman of the Team Asue Media Organization (TAMO), has officially resigned his membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect, citing hijack of the party by undemocratic forces.

The UK-based prominent media expert, who had served in various capacities at both State and National levels, made his resignation known in a letter back dated to July 17, 2025 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in Ward 5, Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo State.

Okpebholo Ray said; “I write to formally tender my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with immediate effect.

“Since joining the party in 1998, I have served diligently and in good conscience across various strategic platforms, as Lead Spokesman of the Team Asue Media Organization, Media Committee Member of the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organization (2016), and later, the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organization (2020).

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“I was also honoured to serve as a member of the PDP Youth Mobilization Committee in 2019 and as the National Coordinator of the Think Naija Think Atiku Support Group.

“These roles saw me actively representing our candidates and party at different fora, campaign platforms, in newspapers, and on national television stations, even as a diaspora member committed to Nigeria’s democratic future.

“Throughout these assignments, I remained committed to the founding values of inclusion, internal democracy, and collective advancement that once defined the PDP.

“Sadly, the soul of the party has been surrendered to undemocratic forces and personal interests, suffocating the hopes of young Nigerians who once saw the PDP as a beacon of national redemption.

“As such, I find it morally and politically necessary to withdraw my membership and step away from a system that no longer reflects the aspirations of its people.

“I remain grateful to the PDP for the opportunities it afforded me to serve, lead, and grow, and I deeply cherish the relationships built over the years.

“I now turn to new possibilities, with firm belief that Nigeria deserves better”.

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The Presidency has denied allegations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration offered ministerial slots to former African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, in a bid to halt the formation of an opposition coalition.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Tinubu, dismissed the claim on Wednesday in a statement posted via his X account.

Nwosu had, during the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, alleged that the government of Tinubu approached him with an offer of three ministerial appointments — one for himself and two others of his choosing — in exchange for dropping plans to reposition the ADC as a platform for opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

But Bwala described the claim as false and baseless, stressing that no official in the current administration has the authority to promise or grant ministerial appointments, except the President himself.

“From his words as reported, you know that he lied — that senior government officials of the Tinubu administration promised him three ministerial slots to not surrender his party to the coalition for a wild goose chase,” Bwala wrote.

“No government official(s) of whatever rank in our government can promise or grant ministerial slots but Mr President. If a promise of ministerial slots were to be made to Mr Nwosu, it would be made by the President — and to him directly,” he added.

Bwala further challenged Nwosu to name the individuals allegedly involved in the offer, stating that such a serious claim should be accompanied by specifics.

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“The same courage he mustered, saying he was promised slots by the officials, could have been used in mentioning their names and positions in this government,” Bwala said.

He said the party was “painfully graduating to an association of jesters or Association of Disorganised Characters.”

The ADC houses political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai. David Mark, former Senate President, was on Tuesday formally installed as the party’s National Chairman during the NEC meeting where Nwosu made the allegations.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has made a bold assertion regarding the political landscape in Northern Nigeria.

During an interview on Trust TV’s program “Sunday Politics,” he expressed that all elected officials from the North, particularly those in gubernatorial positions who are aiming for re-election, face a significant risk of being voted out of office if they do not align themselves with the opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Lawal criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), contending that the party has severely undermined and marginalized the Northern region. He emphasized that the current political climate leaves many elected representatives from the North with no viable option other than to consider defection to the ADC in anticipation of the upcoming 2027 general elections.

“Which northern elected official will go to campaign on the platform of the APC this coming election? Nobody. Unless ab initio, you have no plan to win election. I can’t see anywhere,” he said.

Asked if his claim applies to governors seeking re-election, he said, “Unless they join the ADC, they will not win…simply because they belong to a destructive party. A party that woefully failed to perform.”

The former SGF said most northern governors will have to join the ADC if they intend to contest the election. He revealed that the opposition party has already discussed with some of the governors

Lawal also echoed Rabiu Kwankwaso’s criticism of President Tinubu’s administration, alleging deliberate neglect of northern Nigeria in terms of infrastructure development.

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“Every Nigerian that has anything to do with the north will know that no infrastructure work is going on at any level,” he said.

“No projects are going on — at least they are not visible to the eye. Maybe in their imagination, maybe in the spirit — but we don’t see it.

“We don’t see any construction work. We don’t see any infrastructure going on. No federal government project whatsoever.”

Lawal defended Kwankwaso’s earlier assertions about neglect, noting that both he and the former Kano governor share a technical background that makes them attentive to physical development.

Former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, has expressed skepticism about the longevity of the newly formed coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The ADC was recently launched by a group of opposition politicians, which includes former governors, former ministers, and former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Their objective is to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Monday, the former governor said the buzz around the ADC will die down in three months because of the presidential ambition of some of the top politicians in the party.

Shortly after the launch of the coalition, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, declared their interest in contesting the 2027 polls.

There are also speculations that Atiku would also contest for the party’s presidential ticket.

In his estimation, Sheriff believes the perceived struggle for the party’s presidential ticket would lead to an implosion.

The ex-governor disclosed that Obi is set to leave the coalition to return to the PDP.

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Sheriff said, “This ADC that you’re talking about, I can tell you for free, give them three months, it will die down because all of them are presidential materials and only one of them can be a candidate.

“Atiku has been the vice president of Nigeria. So for him, it is president or nothing. Peter Obi ran under the Labour Party. His ambition is to become President.

“Information available to me is that any moment from now, Obi would go back to the PDP and run as a presidential candidate under the PDP.

“So that leaves Vice President Atiku and (Rotimi) Amaechi. So tell me, which states do they control?”

Meanwhile, the ADC has clarified its position on power rotation between the Northern and Southern regions, emphasizing that it is not fixated on the contentious zoning issues.

The party said it would rather build a strong, grassroots-based political structure across Nigeria than engage in zoning politics.

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