In a significant development in the ongoing leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu has defended the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to derecognize the party’s caretaker leadership, describing the crisis as “political suicide.”
The electoral commission recently removed the names of David Mark, ADC National Chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, ADC National Secretary, from its official records. INEC cited a court directive to maintain the “status quo” in light of an ongoing leadership dispute and stated that it would not recognize any alternative leadership until the Federal High Court in Abuja, as ordered by the Court of Appeal, resolves the matter.
Kachikwu, in a statement on Thursday, attributed the turmoil to political actors attempting to seize control of the party without a clear ideological foundation. He described the ADC as a “bad market” and warned that those trying to take shortcuts into the party would ultimately face rejection.
He explained that the crisis stemmed from the expiration of the tenure of former chairman Ralph Nwosu, after which opportunistic politicians allegedly attempted to use the ADC as a new platform for personal ambitions. According to Kachikwu, such actions reflect a lack of coherent ideology, with politicians shifting across parties without principles, motivated solely by the pursuit of power.
“Jumping from political party to political party, no ideology, no belief system, standing for nothing and believing only in the notion that power is their birth right,” Kachikwu said.
He emphasized that the ADC leadership dispute is not merely an internal party matter but also a cautionary tale about the risks of prioritizing personal gain over democratic principles. Kachikwu’s position aligns with INEC’s move to adhere strictly to legal directives, highlighting the electoral body’s role in ensuring that party leadership conflicts are resolved through judicial processes rather than political maneuvering.
The former ADC presidential candidate concluded by urging political actors to respect party structures and legal frameworks, warning that attempts to bypass established procedures could undermine not only individual ambitions but also the credibility of the party itself.
With the leadership dispute ongoing, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court in Abuja, where a final ruling will determine the recognized leadership of the ADC and shape the party’s political trajectory ahead of future elections.
