In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared a resignation letter purportedly written by Nafiu Bala, the Deputy National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as fake. Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on November 5, asserting that the document presented by the faction led by former Senate President David Mark was not authentic. The court's examination revealed material discrepancies between the signature on the disputed letter and those on Bala's verified witness statements, leading to the conclusion that the resignation could not be substantiated as genuine evidence of Bala's departure from his role.

The court emphasized that the certification of a document does not automatically validate the authenticity of a signature. Justice Lifu noted that while a certified document may confirm its status as a true copy, it does not resolve disputes regarding the validity of the signature itself. The judge's analysis showed that the signature on the resignation letter, referred to as Exhibit ADC-1, was not consistent with Bala's known signatures, prompting the court to reject the document as reliable proof of resignation. This ruling is part of a broader legal dispute surrounding the leadership of the ADC, which has implications for the party's future and its presidential nomination processes.S1S2

Bala initially challenged the legitimacy of the ADC leadership arrangement in September 2025, contesting the election process that led to David Mark's appointment as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary. The Mark-led faction had claimed that Bala voluntarily resigned on May 17, 2025, and that this was communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Bala has consistently denied any involvement with the resignation letter, labeling it as a forgery. The court's ruling not only invalidated the resignation but also nullified the leadership of Mark and Aregbesola, stating that their emergence did not comply with the democratic election requirements mandated by the Electoral Act 2022.S1S2

In addition to rejecting the resignation letter, the court's judgment also voided the ADC's nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the upcoming 2027 general election. This decision underscores the significant ramifications of the ruling on the party's political landscape. Following the judgment, the Mark-led faction has expressed its intention to appeal, indicating that this legal battle over the ADC's leadership is far from over, and the implications for the party's direction and electoral strategies will continue to unfold in the coming months.S1S2