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By Oscar Okhifo
Dumebi Kachikwu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu has lambasted the newly formed coalition spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing it of being a covert strategy to deny the South a chance at the presidency in 2027.
Speaking at a press briefing on the state of the party, Kachikwu alleged that Atiku and his allies , including former Senate President David Mark, were attempting to hijack the ADC through the back door, under the guise of forming a political coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kachikwu said that, the real motive behind the coalition is to position Atiku as the consensus presidential candidate in 2027, in violation of Nigeria’s long-standing power rotation principle.
“This coalition is nothing but a desperate plot to return power to the North,” Kachikwu declared. “Atiku never believed in a Southern presidency, and his actions continue to prove that.”
He challenged the coalition’s promoters to publicly declare that the 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South. Without such a commitment, he said, the group lacked credibility and moral standing.
“If they believe in fairness, let them say clearly that the next president should come from the South. But they won’t, because that is not their plan,” he said.
Kachikwu further criticized the composition of the coalition, describing it as dominated by aging politicians who have long lost touch with Nigeria’s youth and the realities of modern governance.
“Almost 70 to 75 percent of those involved in this so-called coalition are over 75 years old. They are geriatrics, political jobbers, viruses and bacteria feeding on the system,” he said.
He also rejected the legitimacy of Ralph Nwosu as the national chairman of the ADC, pointing out that Nwosu’s tenure expired in August 2022. According to Kachikwu, the continued endorsement of Nwosu by the coalition members is illegal and unacceptable.
Kachikwu vowed to resist the attempted takeover through all legal and political means, including a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a planned court action to restore order within the party.
He said , despite facing threats and alleged smear campaigns, he has resolved to defend the integrity of the ADC and Nigeria’s democratic norms.
“We will not be intimidated. We will not let the back door be used to frustrate the hopes of the South or silence the youth. We will fight legally and constitutionally,” he concluded.
There’s no official response from any of the persona as at press time.