Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu has cautioned politicians defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) against destabilising the ADC.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Kachikwu accused some opposition figures, including former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and former Senate President David Mark of being responsible for Nigeria’s political and economic decay.
He warned that they cannot wreck their former parties and come to ADC to repeat the same mistakes.
“You cannot set a house on fire and then claim you want to be the fire brigade to put it out. These are the very people who have ruined Nigeria for decades. They cannot destroy PDP, Labour Party, and then come into ADC to destroy it too,” Kachikwu said.
The ex-presidential candidate accused defectors of being more interested in political survival than in genuine service to Nigerians.
“These are people who cannot stay outside political office, who have no real means of livelihood except politics, and who only want to feather their nests. If we allow them back into power, they will further destroy Nigeria,” he stated.
He dismissed arguments that opposition coalitions were necessary to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that Nigerians must instead rally behind credible leaders with integrity and vision.
“In a country of over 200 million people, are we saying only the same failed names of the last 30 years can rescue Nigeria? Absolutely not. My generation and the next have what it takes. Nigerians are tired, and very soon, the silent majority will rise and say enough is enough,” he declared.
Kachikwu further reaffirmed his commitment to the ADC and to pursuing ongoing legal battles over the party’s leadership tussle.
He urged Nigerians to join credible parties and run for office rather than lamenting from the sidelines, stressing that only fresh leadership can break the cycle of failure.
“I would rather stand with a few determined Nigerians who are focused on rescuing this nation than align with those who have destroyed it,” he added.
In a related development, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju has dismissed claims of factional leadership in the party, insisting that the courts have already affirmed the legitimacy of the existing state executives.
Speaking on Channels Television programme, Nwauju said the Rivers APC must not be portrayed as divided, stressing that “there are no sides” within the party.
According to him, the court judgment of October 16, 2021, remains binding and has not been set aside by any higher court.
“You cannot afford to lend this platform to the sort of brigands that we saw in the past. The court has already affirmed what the Congress did in October 2021, and my tenure is still running. There is only one APC.”
The Rivers APC has been embroiled in leadership disputes, with rival camps claiming legitimacy.
However, Nwauju maintained that the judiciary has already settled the matter and urged party members to respect the ruling.
