Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, isn’t mincing words. In a fiery press briefing held on Thursday, Kachikwu accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others in his circle of trying to hijack the ADC for selfish political gain, insisting they are not driven by noble ideals but by personal survival.
“There is a big difference between a genuine political coalition and what we are witnessing—a desperate political gang,” Kachikwu said. “These people are not interested in building anything new. They want to resuscitate their failing political lives and rescue themselves, not Nigeria.”
According to Kachikwu, the same individuals who contributed to Nigeria’s current woes are now scheming to take over the ADC by allegedly offering state party chairmen as much as ₦20 million to resign their positions. “If you buy out all the state and LGA executives, then what next? Our constitution doesn’t allow you to just walk into those offices. The ADC cannot be bought,” he declared.
He didn’t stop there. Taking a direct swipe at Atiku, Kachikwu claimed the former VP has consistently acted against Southern leadership. “Atiku has shown, time and again, that he doesn’t believe any Southerner deserves to be president,” Kachikwu alleged. “He nearly blocked Obasanjo’s second term. He didn’t support President Jonathan, and after eight years of Buhari, he still felt it was his turn.”
Kachikwu also addressed accusations that he is a paid mouthpiece for President Bola Tinubu. “To those calling me Tinubu’s spokesperson, I say this: being a spokesperson for the president of the largest Black nation would be an honour, but that’s not who I am,” he clarified. “Political jobbers with no visible means of livelihood always want to drag others down. I won’t be moved.”
He went on to dismiss claims that he no longer holds weight within the party. “They say I’m not a party official, so I shouldn’t speak. That’s the same elitist mindset that’s killing this country. Every party member, no matter how poor, has a voice in the ADC,” he insisted.
Kachikwu concluded by warning Nigerians to beware of politicians orchestrating photo-ops and fake decamping events just to give the impression that ADC is being embraced nationwide. “This is their old trick. They go around paying vulnerable citizens to switch parties for show. But we see through it. We’ve had enough,” he said.
His message was loud and clear: the ADC will not be a refuge for power-hungry elites. And as internal party battles intensify, it seems the ADC, under Kachikwu’s watch, is ready to fight back.
