ADC crisis requires ‘doctrine of necessity’ – Dumebi Kachikwu

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, says the party’s current leadership crisis requires the invocation of a “doctrine of necessity” to resolve the impasse. Kachikwu said “the ADC has lacked a national chairman for more than two years, following the expiration of the tenure of Ralph Nwosu’s National Working […]

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, says the party’s current leadership crisis requires the invocation of a “doctrine of necessity” to resolve the impasse.

Kachikwu said “the ADC has lacked a national chairman for more than two years, following the expiration of the tenure of Ralph Nwosu’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the party’s failure to conduct a national convention since then.”

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said he and other party stakeholders had approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the courts to find a resolution.

“ADC, as of today, has not had a chairman for the past two years. We’ve been unable to conduct a convention since the tenure of Ralph Nwosu lapsed. This situation was not envisaged in our constitution,” Kachikwu said, adding that the party must now invoke a doctrine of necessity, akin to that used during the constitutional crisis under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

His remarks came amid controversy over the recent handover of the ADC’s leadership to a coalition of opposition leaders, with former Senate President David Mark announced as interim national chairman.

The coalition leadership, endorsed by the ADC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on July 29, also appointed 43 members into a new NWC, a decision that was communicated to INEC.

However, as of Friday evening, INEC’s website still listed Ralph Nwosu as the party’s national chairman, fuelling concerns that the David Mark-led coalition has not been officially recognised.

Kachikwu insisted that Nwosu had no authority to hand over the party to any coalition, describing the July 29 actions as a belated attempt to cover up earlier missteps.

The media entrepreneur, who confirmed his intention to run for president again in 2027 on the ADC platform, said he welcomed internal competition but rejected any attempt to hijack the party.

He alleged that the coalition’s real objective was to ensure former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secures the ADC presidential ticket unchallenged, claiming that the Obidient movement’s recent dissatisfaction with the party structure vindicates his earlier warnings.

“I also warned that Peter Obi and other presidential hopefuls in this coalition of geriatrics were being duped, as Atiku’s men had been positioned to take over ADC structures nationwide,” he said.

He further alleged that Obi had been pressured to accept a vice-presidential slot under Atiku, and that former President Goodluck Jonathan had been drafted into the equation, allegedly offering Obi the role of coordinating minister for the economy in exchange for support.

“In all of this,” Kachikwu said, “Nigerians are the losers because meritocracy has been sacrificed, and the notion of ceteris paribus doesn’t exist in Nigeria’s political ecosystem.”