On Thursday, July 17, 2025, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, sharply criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him and his coalition of attempting to hijack the ADC for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Kachikwu alleged that Atiku’s ambition to contest on the ADC platform reflects his belief that only northerners, not southerners, deserve the presidency, citing Atiku’s past efforts to challenge former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. He challenged Atiku to publicly declare that the presidency should remain in the south for another six years to prove his commitment to equity, arguing that Atiku’s coalition is deceiving Mr. Peter Obi, former Labour Party candidate, into accepting a vice-presidential role to bolster Atiku’s campaign.
Kachikwu further accused the coalition, which includes prominent figures like former Senate President David Mark and former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, of offering ₦20 million bribes to ADC state chairmen to resign, a tactic he deemed dishonorable and futile due to the party’s constitutional safeguards. He described the coalition as a “political gang” driven by personal gain, not noble ideals, and criticized their alleged practice of paying people to stage defections to the ADC. Kachikwu rejected claims that he is a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, asserting his independence and commitment to the ADC’s vision for fresh leadership. He emphasized that the ADC is not for sale and urged the coalition to cease spreading misinformation, reaffirming his resolve to protect the party’s integrity and prioritize Nigeria’s interests over what he called a “war of the old for the old.”
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