Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) 2023 presidential candidate, has fiercely condemned the coalition of former political heavyweights that recently hijacked ADC as their platform for the 2027 general elections. He labeled the move a hostile, backdoor takeover and branded the coalition as “enemies of Nigeria” whose agenda threatens to drag the nation backward .
During a blistering appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kachikwu excoriated coalition members including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola—for recycling leadership instead of nurturing new talent. He criticized their attempt to seize control of ADC as a quest for self-enrichment, stating:
“They are enemies of Nigeria. They are enemies of progress… a bunch of geriatrics… They’ve never taken us forward” .
Kachikwu dismissed the legitimacy of their actions, noting that former ADC leader Ralph Nwosu’s tenure expired in August 2022 and that any alliance forged under his leadership was void of legal standing . He denounced the arrangement as a “political dramedy” orchestrated through a back door, urging the coalition to follow proper, democratic procedures: “If they want to join us, they should come through the front door” .
In a detailed press release, Kachikwu warned that the move deepens public cynicism about Nigerian politics: “They are political jobbers… nothing to offer… We’re living in a new age” .
He further pledged to challenge the takeover legally by seeking INEC confirmation on party leadership and reiterated that any coalition without grassroots agreement would ultimately collapse .
This controversy highlights deep ideological divisions within Nigeria’s opposition as the 2027 election approaches, with Kachikwu championing reform and youth-driven politics against a coalition of established figures seeking to regain the reins of power.
