The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has faulted the recent adoption of the ADC by an opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing the move as “amusing” and “illegitimate.”
On Wednesday, a group of prominent opposition leaders including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi announced the ADC as their preferred platform to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. The coalition also named former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman of the party and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim national secretary.
Reacting in a strongly-worded statement on Thursday, Kachikwu dismissed the takeover as lacking legitimacy, accusing the coalition of aligning with what he described as a defunct party leadership led by Ralph Nwosu.
According to Kachikwu, the tenure of the Nwosu-led executive ended on August 21, 2022, and any alliance involving that group holds no legal or moral ground.
“It is with the greatest amusement that I watched the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar-led group announce their takeover of the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress,” Kachikwu said. “Can you build something on nothing? Can you shave a man’s hair in his absence?”
He criticized the coalition’s members, referring to them as “yesterday’s men” and accusing them of attempting to forcefully hijack the party without following due process.
“These men who set the country on fire now want to be seen as the fire brigade,” he said. “You are not. You are a bunch of greedy and selfish old men who believe that political power is your birthright.”
Kachikwu stressed that the ADC remains a party of integrity and new ideas, not a refuge for recycled politicians. He urged the coalition members to seek membership properly if they truly wish to join.
“If you seek to be a part of the ADC, do the proper thing and come through the front door,” he stated. “We are a party of decent and well-behaved people.”
In a final jab, he said he expects the coalition to abandon the ADC soon in search of another platform. “As you do that, we, the members of the African Democratic Congress, wish you Bon Voyage,” he concluded.
