THE leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State escalated on Monday after a Magistrate Court in Birnin Kebbi ordered the detention of factional state chairman, Sufyanu Bala, over alleged contempt of court.
Presiding Magistrate Abubakar Koko directed that Bala be remanded in custody pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
The suit was filed by a rival faction within the party, which is also seeking an order restraining Bala from parading himself as the ADC state chairman.
Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Garba Abubakar Shehu, who represented factional chairman Abdulrazaq Abubakar Iko, told the court that the action was necessary to enforce compliance with an earlier directive.
He argued that the application was aimed at upholding the authority of the court, insisting that the defendant had continued to act in defiance of subsisting orders.
However, defence counsel Ahmad Abubakar Fingilla challenged the competence of the case, arguing that the Magistrate’s Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, noting that it was already before the High Court.
He maintained that the alleged contempt did not originate from the Magistrate Court, describing the proceedings as fundamentally flawed.
Despite the objection, Magistrate Koko ruled that the matter would proceed and adjourned the case for further hearing.
When contacted, the Malami-backed chairman alleged that rival party elements were colluding with the state government to destabilise the ADC structure in Kebbi State.
He confirmed that the court ordered his arrest and detention, adding that the matter has been adjourned till Tuesday for hearing of the bail application.
The development underscores the deepening leadership tussle within the ADC in Kebbi State, where rival factions continue to clash over control of the party structure amid ongoing court battles and allegations of political interference.
