ADC Leadership Disrecognition A ‘Political Suicide’ — Kachikwu

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has described the party’s ongoing leadership crisis as a “case of political suicide,” following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of its leadership.

INEC said it would no longer recognise the caretaker committee reportedly led by former Senate President David Mark, adding that it would refrain from recognising any faction of the party until all pending legal disputes are conclusively determined by the courts.

The development has thrown the party into further uncertainty, with no officially recognised leadership structure in place.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, Kachikwu blamed what he alleged was the hijack of the party by political actors lacking ideological direction.

At a press conference on Thursday he said the crisis stemmed from actions taken following the expiration of the tenure of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, which he claimed opened the door for external interests to infiltrate the party.

According to him, some politicians moved across multiple platforms before settling on the ADC as a vehicle to pursue their ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These are individuals who have held sway over the affairs of the country for decades, yet continue to move from one party to another without a clear ideology or belief system,” he said.

Kachikwu warned that the ongoing leadership tussle and legal battles could render the ADC an unviable platform for aspirants, particularly those seeking to contest elections in 2027.

“I had long warned that the ADC was a bad market,” he stated, adding that attempts to impose leadership through illegitimate means would ultimately fail.

He further alleged that plans by the disputed leadership to significantly increase nomination fees, from N50,000 to as high as N500,000, were aimed at excluding grassroots members and consolidating control among elite interests.

Kachikwu also dismissed concerns that the ADC crisis signals a drift towards a one-party state, noting that several other political parties remain available to Nigerians.

“There are many parties,PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, SDP, APGA and others,so the issue is not about the absence of alternatives,” he said.

In a more controversial claim, Kachikwu suggested the possibility of a broader political conspiracy, alleging that the crisis within the ADC may have been orchestrated to weaken opposition forces.

“This is the only plausible explanation,” he said, while maintaining that the legal battles surrounding the party could drag on to the Supreme Court.