A leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Thursday, as a faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe staged a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja.

This follows a separate massive demonstration just a day earlier by a rival faction led by former Senate President David Mark.

Gombe, accompanied by a Kogi State lawmaker, Leke Abejide, and hundreds of supporters, accused the David Mark-led leadership of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership in defiance of its constitution and internal processes.

Addressing officials of the electoral body during the protest, Gombe insisted that due process must be followed in resolving the leadership dispute.

He said, “We are here to urge INEC to follow due process. You cannot come to the ADC through the window and expect to overturn the owners of the ADC.

“As democrats, we don’t want any moneybags to come and destroy democracy. The ADC is for all Nigerians from wards, states to national levels.”

Also speaking, Abejide called on the commission to resist what he described as an attempted takeover of the party, stressing that the ADC constitution clearly outlines eligibility requirements for leadership positions.

“We are here to urge INEC to do the right thing and rescue democracy from the hands of usurpers. How do you come to a party and attempt to hijack the leadership on the same day? Which political platform is that done?

“The party constitution is clear about this. You have to spend at least two years in the ADC as an active member before you can aspire for any position. It is clear that the commission has not erred. These people are hijackers and INEC must follow through on reverting to status quo ante bellum by recognising Nafiu Bala Gombe as the national chairman of the party,” he said.

In the same vein, the ADC Director of Youths and Mobilisation, Mohammed Sahad, commended INEC for complying with a court order but urged the commission to go further by affirming Gombe’s leadership.

“INEC has not erred in any way. In fact, we commend the commission for obeying the court order. But they need to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as the authentic national chairman of the ADC.

“INEC needs to do the right thing and do it now. That is why we are here,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the commission, INEC National Commissioner, Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, assured the protesters that their concerns would be reviewed.

“I am here on behalf of the chairman and I believe INEC as a commission will look at your letter and give you feedback. Thank you for being orderly with your protest,” he said.

The protest comes barely 24 hours after a rival faction of the party, led by former Senate President David Mark, staged a large demonstration in Abuja under the banner of #OccupyINEC, accusing the electoral body of actions they claimed undermined democracy and the party’s internal leadership structure.

The demonstration, held at the Maitama Roundabout, drew several prominent political figures, including former presidential candidates and ex-governors, as well as hundreds of supporters, particularly members of the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Participants at the protest were seen singing Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots!”, despite its replacement on May 29, 2024, with the country’s 1960 independence anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” following a directive by President Bola Tinubu.

The back-to-back protests underscore the deepening rift within the ADC, raising concerns over the party’s stability ahead of future electoral contests.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State met with the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives members on Thursday amid intensifying speculation regarding his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The meeting is coming amid indications that the governor is finalizing moves to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling party.

After the meeting, one of the Bauchi House of Representatives members, whose name was not disclosed, while addressing the media with Mohammed present, said: “We are here today as members of the National Assembly to meet with our governor and leader, we are here today on a special invitation to discuss the ongoing realignment that is going on in Nigeria and most especially in our state. To discuss the political development in our state.

“We have reached a certain positive conclusion and within a short period of time we will come out again and make our position known for the world to know what our discussions is all about.”

Mohammed and a top ranking member of the PDP had earlier met with some stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as he considers his options ahead of the coming elections.

As conversations around money become more complex in a fast-evolving digital world, the need to Building Financially Smart Future and equip young people with the right financial knowledge, has never been more urgent.

From spending habits to saving culture, digital transactions, and entrepreneurial thinking, financial literacy is increasingly becoming a life skill, not just a nice-to-have.

It is against this backdrop that Polaris Bank is participating in this year’s Global Money Week (GMW), a global financial awareness campaign which kicked off from Tuesday, April 7 through Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Global Money Week is an annual initiative led by Child and Youth Finance International in collaboration with key stakeholders, including financial service providers and government institutions, to inspire children and young people to learn about money management, livelihoods, and entrepreneurship.

During the 2025 edition Polaris Bank reached and impacted directly 3,372 students, across 35 secondary schools in 36 states across Nigeria.

With the 2026 theme, “Smart Money Talks,” this year’s campaign shines a spotlight on the importance of making informed financial decisions in an increasingly digital environment. It also reinforces the value of critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and sound financial judgement in helping young people navigate today’s financial realities.

For Polaris Bank, participation in Global Money Week goes beyond fulfilling a statutory obligation. It reflects the Bank’s broader commitment to advancing financial literacy, promoting inclusion, and empowering the next generation with practical knowledge that can shape better financial behaviour and long-term economic wellbeing.

In line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Financial Literacy Secretariat, Polaris Bank will conduct Financial Literacy Sessions in schools across states where it maintains branch presence. These sessions will provide students and young adults with useful insights into key areas such as; saving, budgeting, responsible use of financial products, digital financial services, and entrepreneurship.

The initiative also presents an important opportunity for the Bank to engage directly with young people at a formative stage in their lives, helping them build confidence in money matters and make more informed choices as they grow into financially active adults.

At a time when financial decisions are increasingly shaped by technology, peer influence, and instant access to digital tools, Polaris Bank believes that early education is critical to helping young people distinguish between impulse and intention, trend and truth, convenience and responsibility.

By taking financial literacy conversations into schools, the Bank is not only supporting a national mandate but also contributing to the development of a generation that is better informed, more financially aware, and more capable of making smart choices for the future.

Polaris Bank remains committed to initiatives that create meaningful impact, strengthen communities, and empower individuals through knowledge-driven engagement.