BREAKING: Rabiu Kwankwaso Accused of Joining Minor Party to Split Northern Votes for Bola Tinubu — Bala Mohammed Speaks Out

According to a report by TheCable on April 17, 2026, Nafiu Bala Gombe, a factional chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused Rabiu Kwankwaso of undermining northern political interests ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Kwankwaso, who ran under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), placed fourth with 1,496,687 votes. He trailed Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 6,984,520 votes, while Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress won the election with 8,794,726 votes.

After months of talks with opposition figures, Kwankwaso formally joined the ADC on March 30, 2026. However, the party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since July 2025, with rival factions led by Bala and David Mark both claiming authority. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition from both groups on April 1, following a March 12 Court of Appeal ruling that intensified the dispute.

In a DCL Hausa interview, Kwankwaso said he had arranged a meeting with Bala, alleging that Bala failed to show up—an assertion Bala later rejected. Speaking separately on Premier Radio, Bala maintained that Kwankwaso refused reconciliation efforts and accused him of weakening northern unity during the election.

He further claimed that Kwankwaso ignored appeals to step down in favour of Atiku Abubakar to prevent a split in northern votes, arguing that his decision to stay in the race ultimately aided Tinubu’s victory and diminished the region’s political strength ahead of future contests.

Bala also criticised Kwankwaso for contesting under a smaller party despite limited chances of success, alleging that the move contributed to dividing the northern electorate. He concluded by stressing that political participation should be based on competence rather than zoning, while noting that the internal rifts within the ADC reflect broader power struggles as political actors begin positioning for the 2027 general elections.