The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Party, ADC, in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, has reacted to the adoption of the party by the opposition as its coalition base, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others.
The coalition members, at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, announced the ADC as the platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections.
The group has also announced former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman of the ADC, with former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola appointed as the party’s interim national secretary.
But reacting to the development in a statement, Kachikwu said he was watching the announced takeover of the ADC leadership by the coalition with amusement.
He claimed that the coalition is dealing with the former leadership of the party led by Ralph Nwosu.
According to him, the tenure of the Nwosu-led executive of the ADC ended on August 21, 2022.
Kachikwu berated the coalition group, saying that they represent a bad chapter in Nigeria’s past. He, however, said that if they want to join the party, they should do so through the front door.
The statement reads: “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. As is expected, I have been inundated with a lot of calls and messages seeking my reaction to the unfolding dramedy.
“The facts of the matter are as follows: The Atiku-led group is in some form of alliance with the former leadership of the party led by Ralph Nwosu. The tenure of the Nwosu-led executive lapsed on August 21, 2022, and his continued parade of himself as the chairman of the party was the subject of various litigation in different courts across the country.
“From the foregoing, I want to then pose the following questions: 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? These yesterday’s men who represent a bad chapter in Nigeria’s past have bought bad market from a man who represents a bad chapter in ADC’s past.
