Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has raised alarm over what he described as a “fraudulent takeover” of his party by political actors allegedly working to advance the 2027 presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Kachikwu accused a group of “geriatric” politicians, including Atiku, and indirectly former President Goodluck Jonathan — of orchestrating a deliberate power grab under the guise of a coalition movement, while sidelining southern aspirants such as Peter Obi.
“I warned weeks ago that a group of mostly old former political office holders were executing a carefully orchestrated agenda to take over the ADC to prosecute Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition come 2027,” he said.
Kachikwu further claimed that legal documents submitted to the Court of Appeal to resolve an internal leadership dispute in the ADC were fraudulently procured, alleging that signatures of some state chairmen were forged and passed off as legitimate in a “terms of settlement” adopted by the court.
“I have here copies of said judgement and international passport copies of the chairmen whose signatures were forged. Compare the signature specimens,” he told journalists.
He also denounced the controversial appointment of former Senate President David Mark as the new chairman of the ADC, calling it unconstitutional. He pointed to inconsistencies in public statements and filings by Chief Ralph Nwosu, who has continued to act as national chairman despite earlier presenting Mark as his successor.
“What a joke! Nigerians are all watching the live coverage of a fraud so monumental and yet so stupid that it beggars’ belief,” Kachikwu said, holding up a letter to INEC dated July 29, 2025, which was still signed by Nwosu as ADC Chairman.
In a broader political context, Kachikwu accused Atiku Abubakar and “northern elites” of using ethnic and religious divisions to undermine southern presidential hopefuls, including Peter Obi.
“Atiku and a few northern elites… have armed the weapons of region, religion, tongue, tribe and poverty,” he said, alleging that Obi has been pressured to become Atiku’s running mate due to claims that an Igbo man cannot secure votes in the North.
He also mentioned alleged efforts to lure Peter Obi into supporting Goodluck Jonathan, reportedly by offering him a future role as Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
While reiterating his long-standing advocacy for meritocracy and national unity, Kachikwu admitted that recent political events have forced him to support a southern presidency in 2027.
“Sadly, I am now here before you championing the cause of a southern presidency — a notion that before now was totally against all I believed in. Nigeria has indeed happened to me,” he said.
Kachikwu concluded his remarks by urging Nigerians to resist what he called an “unjust political agenda” and to work towards a truly equitable and merit-based political system.
“We don’t burn our houses because we want to kill rats and cockroaches; sometimes we just need to make our houses clean so that they leave on their own,” he said.
