The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has alleged that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and some northern political elites are working to seize control of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Kachikwu said Atiku is using manipulative tactics to influence ADC’s leadership and strengthen his presidential bid. He also claimed that Peter Obi is being pressured to accept the role of Atiku’s running mate.
Kachikwu alleged that Atiku’s associates have occupied key positions within the party’s leadership nationwide to secure total control. He argued that, despite Atiku’s public support for the South, he does not believe any southerner should be Nigeria’s president.
“I warned that a coalition of retired political officeholders was planning to hijack the ADC for Atiku’s 2027 ambition,” Kachikwu said. “Today, that plan is clear to all.”
He further claimed that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan can confirm Atiku’s unwillingness to support a southern presidency.
The ADC candidate accused Atiku’s camp of spreading false narratives to widen the north-south divide. According to him, these efforts aim to convince northern voters that President Bola Tinubu is hostile to their interests.
“Atiku and some northern elites have held political power for decades,” Kachikwu stated. “Yet, they failed to address poverty and illiteracy in the region. Now, they exploit these problems to gain support.”
Kachikwu presented what he described as evidence of forged signatures from ADC state chairmen on court documents supporting Ralph Nwosu’s disputed claim to party leadership.
He also condemned the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as ADC chairman, calling it “a broad daylight fraud committed by the party’s leadership.”
Call for Vigilance
Kachikwu urged party members and Nigerians to resist attempts to undermine democracy for personal gain. He stressed the need for transparency, unity, and fair political practices ahead of the 2027 elections.
