The factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, told BBC Hausa that his wing of the party will not allow anyone older than 55 to run for political office. "If you are over 55 years old, you are not going to contest for positions in the ADC under our leadership," he said, adding that the move is meant to bring "fresh blood, new ideas, and energy from the youth." Bala stressed that the party belongs to all Nigerians and that "the time has come for young people to take the lead in politics."
Bala's faction is presenting itself as a youth‑driven segment of the ADC, contrasting with the David Mark‑led faction, which still fields candidates above 60 and is linked to senior politicians such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi. The younger‑focused wing argues that "Nigeria's future depends on the young generation" and that "the old ways have not worked well for the country."
The policy, announced in the interview, is part of a broader vision for generational change and youth empowerment within the party.
Nafiu Bala Gombe's decision to bar anyone over 55 from ADC tickets marks a stark departure from the age‑based norms that have long characterised Nigerian party politics. By setting a hard age limit, the faction signals an aggressive push to rewrite the party's leadership profile.
The move pits Bala's youth‑centric bloc against the David Mark‑led faction, which still backs seasoned figures such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, underscoring an internal power struggle between renewal and experience. While the ADC claims to belong to all Nigerians, the split reveals competing visions of how the party should compete in a landscape where senior politicians dominate electoral tickets.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially aspiring politicians under 55, the new rule could open a rare pathway to candidacy that has been largely blocked by entrenched seniority. However, voters may also confront a fragmented ADC, with two rival wings fielding separate slates, potentially diluting the party's overall impact in upcoming elections.
If the age ceiling endures, it may encourage other parties to experiment with similar youth‑focused reforms, reshaping the age dynamics of political representation across the country.
