Federal High Court Justice Peter Lifu has ruled that a purported resignation letter presented to establish the exit of Nafiu Bala, former African Democratic Congress (ADC) deputy national chairman, is not genuine.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 5, the court held that the disputed document, relied upon by the party faction led by former Senate President David Mark, could not be accepted as authentic proof that Bala voluntarily relinquished his post.
A Certified True Copy of the judgment obtained by punch correspondent on Wednesday revealed that the judge identified material discrepancies between the signature on the resignation letter and those on Bala’s sworn witness statements.
Justice Lifu stressed that document certification alone does not establish the authenticity of a disputed signature. He noted that while certification confirms a copy matches the record held by the issuing authority, the court must weigh the document alongside relevant evidence to verify if the named individual actually signed it.
Furthermore, the judge explained that courts may compare disputed signatures with established specimens without necessarily requiring expert testimony in every instance. Having compared Exhibit ADC-1 with Bala’s sworn statements, the court rejected the document as reliable evidence.
The ruling forms part of a wider legal battle over the leadership of the ADC. This dispute culminated in the court nullifying the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership, alongside the party’s nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Bala initiated legal action in September 2025 to contest the legitimacy of the arrangement that installed Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregsesola as national secretary. Although the Mark-led faction maintained that Bala resigned on May 17, 2025 and that the Independent National Electoral Commission was notified Bala repeatedly denounced the letter as a forgery.
The court’s rejection of the document severely undermines the faction’s efforts to prove Bala stepped down prior to the leadership transition.
In addition to the signature ruling, Justice Lifu held that the ascension of Mark and Aregsesola during the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting on July 27, 2025, failed to satisfy the mandatory democratic election requirements outlined in Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The judge emphasized that internal committee powers and subsequent INEC recognition cannot bypass statutory compliance. The judgment deepens the ADC’s internal crisis, with the Mark-led faction expressing its intention to challenge the ruling on appeal.
This legal setback places the party’s preparations for the 2027 general election under heightened uncertainty, particularly following the invalidation of Atiku’s nomination.
Athekame Kenneth is a politics, economy, and finance reporter whose work is anchored in sharp investigative storytelling. He brings analytical depth to every piece, drawing on a strong academic foundation that includes a degree in Economics, an MBA in International Trade, and a minor in Petroleum Economics from Lagos State University, Ojo. His reporting blends rigorous research with a keen eye for hidden truths, delivering stories that illuminate power, policy, and the forces shaping everyday lives.
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