The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing a deepening internal crisis following damning allegations by its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, who claims that certain individuals within a self-styled political coalition are offering state party chairmen up to ₦20 million to resign in a bid to hijack the party for personal interests.
Addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Kachikwu dismissed the group as a “political gang” rather than a coalition, accusing them of pursuing selfish economic agendas under the guise of national interest.
“They’re offering some state chairmen as much as ₦20 million to step down. This clearly shows their intentions are far from honourable,” he said. “Their money will get them nowhere in the ADC.”
Reaffirming his identity as an Ibo man from Onicha Ugbo, Delta State, Kachikwu asserted his right to aspire to Nigeria’s presidency, describing the allegations against him as deliberate misinformation propagated by “agents of destabilisation.”
“The presidency is not and will never be the birthright of any one section of this country, regardless of their propaganda,” he said.
He described the alleged conspirators as politicians unable to thrive outside public office, accusing them of seeking to seize control of the ADC to rescue themselves from economic hardship they contributed to creating.
Kachikwu also denied claims that he is a paid spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that while serving the President would be an honour, the allegations are false and intended to smear his reputation by “political jobbers with no visible means of livelihood.”
“I remain unfazed. They claim they are ADC, but no matter what they say, it doesn’t make it so,” he said.
He further accused the coalition of organising fake events nationwide, where poor Nigerians are allegedly paid to claim they are defecting to the ADC from other parties – a strategy he described as deceitful and outdated.
In a direct attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kachikwu alleged that Atiku is orchestrating the plot through proxies, citing his historical opposition to southern leadership – from tensions with President Obasanjo to opposing President Goodluck Jonathan and refusing to support power rotation after President Buhari’s tenure.
“Atiku nearly stopped Obasanjo’s second term because he believed the presidency was his birthright. Jonathan faced the same opposition. After eight years of Buhari, he still felt entitled to the PDP ticket. That injustice led to the party’s current disintegration,” he said.
Kachikwu further claimed that Atiku is manipulating former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi into believing only he (Atiku) has the northern numbers to win elections.
“If Atiku insists my claims are false and that he truly wants a better Nigeria, I challenge him to publicly declare that equity demands the presidency remain in the South for another six years. Let him support any southern candidate of his choice,” he challenged.
He warned that the ADC is “not for sale” and “not an old people’s home,” describing the attempted takeover as “a war of the old for the old,” which he said has no place in a progressive party like the ADC.
“In the ADC, Nigeria and Nigerians will always remain our focus,” he declared. “We believe this country needs fresh faces, fresh ideals, and fresh ideas.”
With tensions mounting, political observers say the coming days will determine whether the ADC can withstand what is being described as an “internal coup” or if it will emerge more divided ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kachikwu ended his address with a rallying call to party members nationwide: “This is not the ADC way.”
