ADC Crisis Deepens as Nafiu Bala Gombe Bars Aspirants Above 55 from 2027 Elections
The factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, has unveiled a major adjustment to the party’s eligibility framework ahead of the forthcoming general elections, a development that could significantly alter its internal political dynamics.
In what appears to be a decisive policy shift, Gombe announced that aspirants above the age of 55 will no longer be eligible to contest for elective positions under the ADC platform, a move widely interpreted as a deliberate strategy to recalibrate the party’s leadership structure.
The directive, which directly affects the party’s presidential primary process, effectively shuts out older political figures from vying for the ADC ticket in what is expected to be a highly competitive race.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa, Gombe outlined what he described as a forward-looking agenda anchored on generational transition. PulseNets learnt that the factional chairman framed the policy as part of a broader effort to reposition the party by elevating younger Nigerians into active leadership roles.
He maintained that the evolving political landscape demands a conscious shift toward youth inclusion, stressing that the party is committed to opening up space for a new generation of leaders to emerge and take charge of governance.
“We will give youths a chance. If you are over 55 years, you are not going to contest in the ADC,” Gombe said during the broadcast.
The announcement, PulseNets reported, has already stirred reactions within the party, particularly as it sidelines several prominent figures who may have been eyeing the ADC presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, including recent defectors.
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In a related context, PulseNets gathered that the development is unfolding against the backdrop of an ongoing leadership crisis within the party. The emergence of a parallel faction under Gombe continues to contest the authority and tenure of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, further deepening divisions within the ADC.
