- A fierce political storm is brewing within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu has accused a coalition of political defectors of hijacking the party to prepare a 2027 presidential platform for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Kachikwu made the explosive claim during a press conference on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the unveiling of former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman of the ADC, alongside ex-ministers Rauf Aregbesola and Bolaji Abdullahi as interim secretary and publicity secretary, respectively.
The controversial transition has rattled existing party structures, with Kachikwu alleging that the takeover was orchestrated without democratic process and designed solely to return Atiku to power in 2027 — a move he described as “a betrayal of balance and equity.”
“Let them come out publicly and say the next flagbearer will come from the South — they won’t. This coalition is about Atiku, and that’s a red flag,” Kachikwu said, flanked by ADC state chairmen from Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, and Jigawa.
Legal Showdown Looms
Kachikwu hinted at an imminent legal battle, declaring that his faction would challenge the new leadership in court and petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify the legitimacy of the party's current leadership.
“We’re asking INEC: Is there a chairman in this party or not? If there’s a vacuum, the elected state chairmen will convene a convention to restore order.”
Kachikwu, who said he ranked fifth in the 2023 presidential polls, rejected what he described as an undemocratic process that excluded the South from leadership considerations. He said he walked away from earlier coalition talks once it became clear that power-sharing and inclusivity were not on the table.
“I was told outright: ‘We are taking our power back.’ It was clear then this was about recycled leadership, not national renewal.”
Counterpunch from Plateau and Coalition Leaders
But the new coalition has pushed back, insisting due process was followed and the party’s transformation is both legitimate and necessary.
ADC Plateau State Chairperson, Mrs Hanatu Gagara, dismissed Kachikwu’s claims as misleading and self-serving.
“He was a candidate, not a current stakeholder. Since 2022, he hasn’t communicated with many of us. I’ve been in this party for 17 years — I know what’s happening.”
Gagara argued that the coalition was the product of nearly two years of negotiations and had the backing of key ADC stakeholders. She praised the former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu for keeping the party afloat single-handedly for two decades and welcomed the infusion of fresh leadership.
“This isn’t about power. It’s about unity and rescuing Nigeria. Anyone against that is against the people.”
Dalung: Kachikwu Out of Touch
Echoing that position, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung also refuted Kachikwu’s assertions.
“This is no hijack. The party board of trustees and critical stakeholders were present during the transition. If Kachikwu wasn’t in the loop, that’s because he’s lost touch.”
Dalung emphasized that the ADC remains open to all who share its ideals, but rejected the notion that the recent changes were illegitimate.
Presidency: This Is No APC 2.0
Reacting to the development, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, condemned comparisons between the ADC coalition and the formation of the APC in 2013.
“There’s no injustice being redressed here—only a desperate power grab,” Dare said in a statement on X.
He accused the coalition's key promoters of lacking grassroots support and pursuing personal ambition under the guise of national reform.
“Unlike Tinubu, they come without political structures, without the backing of their regions. This is ambition dressed up as patriotism.”
The Road Ahead
As the ADC hurtles toward internal legal battles and power realignments, observers say the fate of the party may rest on whether it can unite its fractured base—or collapse under the weight of ambition and mistrust.
Kachikwu has vowed to rally grassroots members and fight to reclaim what he describes as “a party hijacked for elite interests.”
“This is not over. The courts, the people, and the truth are on our side,” he said defiantly.
