A Magistrate Court in Birnin Kebbi has ordered that Sufyanu Bala, a factional chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State, be kept in custody over an allegation of contempt of court.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the decision adds to the ongoing leadership dispute within the party in the state.
Magistrate Abubakar Koko gave the order and directed that Bala should remain in detention until his bail request is heard. The bail hearing was fixed for April 21, 2026.
The case was brought by a rival group within the ADC, which is also asking the court to stop Bala from presenting himself as the party chairman in the state. Their lawyer, Garba Shehu, who represents another faction led by Abdulrazaq Iko, told the court that the move was to ensure obedience to an earlier court decision.
The defence lawyer, Ahmad Fingilla, objected to the case. He argued that the magistrate court had no authority to handle the matter because it was already being handled at the High Court. He also stated that the alleged contempt did not begin at the magistrate court level.
Even with the objection, the court allowed the case to continue and fixed another date for further hearing.
After the court sitting, Sufyanu Bala reacted to the situation, saying he believed the case was politically driven. He claimed that certain groups in the state government were working with rivals within the party to weaken their structure. He also maintained that the court did not have the right to handle the matter and insisted he would continue with the case process.
The leadership struggle in the ADC in Kebbi has been going on for months, with different groups holding separate meetings and claiming control of the party. Bala is widely linked to the camp associated with Abubakar Malami, a situation that has further widened the division.