A correspondent from TV Platinum, whose live coverage was monitored by SaharaReporters via Facebook, reported from the National Stadium in Abuja that the facility remained completely empty at the time the convention was expected to commence.

The venue slated for the national convention of the Nafiu Bala-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja was deserted on Tuesday, with no sign of party delegates, officials, or preparations for the much-publicised event.

A correspondent from TV Platinum, whose live coverage was monitored by SaharaReporters via Facebook, reported from the National Stadium in Abuja that the facility remained completely empty at the time the convention was expected to commence.

“We are live at the national stadium in Abuja where the Nafiu-Bala-led faction of ADC is expected to hold their national convention,” the reporter said.

“Now as you can see, the venue is empty. There is nobody here. No preparation ongoing. No delegate, no party members. The whole place is empty. Everywhere is empty. The velodrome is locked.”

The development comes amid heightened tensions within the ADC, following reports that Bala’s faction had scheduled its own national convention for April 21, 2026, at the Abuja National Stadium.

The planned event is part of an escalating leadership crisis rocking the party, with parallel claims to authority by Bala and another faction led by former Senate President, David Mark.

Just days earlier, Bala had dismissed the April 14 national convention organised by the Mark-led faction as “a nullity” and a violation of a subsisting court judgment. He insisted that any action taken in disregard of the Court of Appeal ruling delivered on March 12, 2026, would be legally void.

“The noticeable absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission from the convention strongly indicates that the process lacks official recognition and cannot stand judicial scrutiny as to its legitimacy,” Bala had said.

He further described the rival convention as unconstitutional and accused the opposing camp of engaging in lawlessness, including the alleged forgery of documents bearing his signature.

Bala also rejected claims that the Mark-led coalition legitimately adopted the ADC as a political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the process was manipulated to seize control of the party’s leadership.

According to him, what was presented as a simple political alignment quickly turned into what he described as a coordinated attempt to restructure the party without due process.

He maintained that his faction remains the legitimate leadership of the ADC and argued that members of the opposing group lack the legal standing to organise any convention or make binding decisions on behalf of the party.

The leadership tussle has already spilled into the courts, with Bala confirming that the matter is pending before Justice Emeka Nwite, following the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise his claim as acting national chairman.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official explanation from Bala’s faction regarding the absence of activities at the convention venue, raising fresh questions about the viability of the planned gathering and the deepening crisis within the ADC.