The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has declared that the party will write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to demand clarification on the authentic leadership of the ADC, insisting that Ralph Nwosu no longer has the mandate to sign any coalition agreement on behalf of the party.
Kachikwu rejected the ‘takeover’ of the ADC by a coalition of opposition figures, describing the move as hostile, illegal, and lacking legitimacy.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he dismissed the coalition’s emergence as a “dramedy” and accused its leaders of aligning with what he called the wrong faction of the ADC.
“The tenure of the Nwosu-led executive lapsed on August 21, 2022, and his continued parade of himself as chairman of the party is the subject of various litigations across different courts in the country,” Kachikwu said.
Posing some questions, he asked: “Can you build something on nothing? Can you shave a man’s hair in his absence? Can you enter a man’s house through the back door and declare yourself the landlord?”
He described the coalition members as “yesterday’s men” who, according to him, represent a “bad chapter in Nigeria’s past” and have now bought a “bad market” from someone who equally misrepresented the party’s ideals.
Kachikwu mocked the coalition as “a group of mostly geriatrics” desperate for a platform to continue what he termed their “chopping must continue” mission, arguing that the episode confirms public cynicism about Nigeria’s political parties.
“This further cements the opinion most Nigerians hold that political parties in the country stand for nothing and will fall for anything,” he said.
“They claim to be fighting for the rights of ordinary Nigerians but are the same old politicians who have governed this nation for over four decades.”
He said the result of their rule is a country divided by tribe and religion, thriving in mediocrity, and leaving the majority of citizens poor and deprived of basics.
“Those who set our nation on fire now claim to be the fire brigade,” he declared, describing the coalition leaders as “a bunch of greedy and selfish old men who believe political power is their birthright.”
According to Kachikwu, Nigerians are tired of recycled leaders and now yearn for new names, new faces, fresh ideas, and true progressive ideals.
He called for a new Nigeria driven by meritocracy and devoid of ethnic and religious bias, demanding leadership that genuinely works for everyone.
“You have failed us and stand rejected by us,” he said, urging the coalition leaders to follow due process if they truly wished to align with the ADC.
“If they want to join us, they should come through the front door. We are a party of decent and well-behaved people. Our brand of opposition not only opposes but proposes—something your group is not conversant with,” he said, warning that failure to do so would only lead to their exit.
He described as laughable Nwosu’s alleged handover of the party to former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, days after they reportedly collected ADC membership cards.
He cited the party’s constitution, which stipulates that anyone seeking executive office must have been a member for at least three years.
Appearing later on Channels TV, Kachikwu said the coalition’s plan does not represent progress but a backward step for Nigeria.
“They are the enemies of Nigeria. They are enemies of progress. Nigerians can no longer be fooled,” he said.
He condemned the fact that despite 70% of Nigerians being under 30, the coalition is dominated by people well above 75.
“They’re political jobbers whose only concern is holding office,” he said. “How can anyone believe that after Asiwaju, it should still be a bunch of old men taking over? They have nothing to offer. They don’t even understand the language their kids speak.”
He questioned what these former ministers and office holders achieved during their tenure, saying their claim to want to rescue the country was disingenuous.
Kachikwu concluded that when he joined the ADC, he believed in its ideals but was shocked to discover that Nwosu had led the party for 18 years without fostering true internal democracy.
According to him, genuine ADC members stand united in rejecting the “illegal” takeover. He maintained that the fight is not just about the ADC or Tinubu but about the future of Nigeria.
“They don’t need ADC. Nigeria doesn’t need them,” he said.
