Nafiu Bala Gombe, the factional claimant to the chairmanship of the African Democratic Congress, has held a press briefing declaring the David Mark-led ADC convention held on Tuesday as illegal and liable to be declared null and void by the courts — while also threatening criminal charges against Mark and his associates over what he described as the forgery of his resignation letter.
However, the press briefing generated as much attention for Gombe’s visible struggle to read the prepared statement placed before him as for the content of the statement itself with Nigerians on social media mercilessly mocking his delivery, questioning who wrote the statement, and raising pointed questions about who is financing his prolonged challenge to the Mark leadership.
In a statement he read to journalists, Gombe described the Mark-led convention as an unlawful assembly conducted in flagrant disregard of the Court of Appeal’s March 12, 2026, judgment.
“Any action taken in flagrant disregard of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 12th of March 2026 is not only of questionable legality but is liable to be declared null and void by the Federal High Court upon final determination,” Gombe stated.
He pointed to INEC’s absence from the convention as evidence that the process lacked official recognition.
“The notable absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission from the convention strongly indicates that the process lacks official recognition and cannot stand judicial scrutiny as to its legitimacy,” Gombe stated.
He accused the Mark-led coalition of having “a documented history of contempt for the rule of law,” alleging they “forcefully joined the party several months ago in clear violation of the party constitution.”
Gombe went further, declaring that as far as what he described as the “duly constituted and legitimate leadership” of the party is concerned, “the coalition group are not members of the African Democratic Congress” and “subsequently lack the requisite locus to convene or conduct any congresses or convention.”
In the most explosive element of his statement, Gombe accused the Mark faction of forging his resignation letter and threatened criminal charges.
“The matter has now escalated to a criminal dimension involving the fabrication of false documents bearing my forged signature with the intent to damage my reputation,” Gombe stated.
He argued that while Mark and his associates have relied on Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026 to argue that internal party affairs are non-justiciable, they “fail to be aware that the same section contains a provision where a member’s rights are infringed or the party constitution is breached the court is vested with jurisdiction to entertain and determine the suit.”
Gombe also dismissed the characterisation of his case as an internal party matter.
“I wish to clarify that this matter is not an internal party affair. The case pending before the honourable justice clearly concerns a breach of the African Democratic Congress constitution and an infringement of my rights as a bonafide member,” Gombe stated.
While Gombe’s legal arguments may have had substance, his delivery overshadowed his message entirely.
The press briefing, broadcast live, showed Gombe visibly struggling to read the prepared statement stumbling over words, mispronouncing legal terms, and appearing unfamiliar with the content of the document placed before him.
The reaction on social media was immediate and devastating.
“A primary school pupil will read better than this. Our political space is crowded with the worst this is why we can’t progress as a nation,” one user wrote.
“Who wrote this hard English words for this man to read?” another asked, laughing.
“Instead of APC to sponsor this one to further his education, they’re busy stressing him with academic handouts,” another observed.