By Ayodele Oni and Akinwale Kasali
The crisis in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has worsened. It has led to the expulsion of its Presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, and seven other chieftains from the party.
Kachikwu’s choice as the Presidential candidate has been controversial from day one. One of the Party’s chieftains, and the person most people thought would be the Presidential candidate, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, protested, vehemently. He said the process which led to Kachikwu’s choice was badly corrupted. He dumped the Party and has become OBIdient.
However, Kachikwu has dismissed the his expulsion as null and void.
In a Statement by its National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, issued on Saturday, 17th September 2022, the Party cited anti-party activities and violation of the party’s constitution as reasons for the expulsion.
Chieftains expelled from the Party are Kennedy Odion, Kingsley Oggah, Musa Hassan, Bello Isiyaka, Clement Ehiator, Kabiru Hussaini and Alaka Godwin.
The statement reads: “The seven-man Disciplinary Panel set up by the African Democratic Congress, ADC to look into the allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and gross violations of the party’s constitution amongst others levelled against Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others, sat on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th of September respectively and submitted its report formally to the leadership of the party on the 15th of September 2022.
“The Panel found Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others guilty of the allegation levelled against them, subsequently in accordance with article 15 of the party’s constitution recommended that Mr.Dumebi Kachikwu & others be expelled from the party.
“The NWC met on the 16th of September 2022 to deliberate on the report and accepted the report of the Panel with modification.
“With this development, the party has taken strategic steps to clean its stables and is determined to move into reckoning across the country. NWC urged all the candidates and members to focus on the 2023 general election while rededicating themselves to the ideals of the party.
“The NWC also commended the members of the Committee for the courage and commitment shown in the quality of their work and called on all its members to remain focused and continue to be good ambassadors of ADC.”
But speaking to AIT on Saturday, Kachikwu said that the action taken by the 7-man panel is invalid and should be ignored by the public as the tenure of the national chairman of the party had expired in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Kachukwu insisted that the Ralph Nwosu led leadership is unconstitutional but the Patricia Akwashiki-led caretaker committee is valid in line with the party’s constitution.
The National Chairman had denied the claim that he had exhausted his two terms of eight years each, in office and admitted to having spent 17 years in office but that the party’s condition warranted it.
The ADC had earlier this month announced the suspension of Kachikwu through a statement released by the Deputy National Chairman, Bamidele Ajadi.
Kachikwu’s expulsion comes about five months to the Presidential election and two weeks to the start of Campaigns.
The status of the APC in the Presidential election is unknown. Perhaps, it will be determined by INEC? Is the Party allowed to present a substitute? Will Kachikwu go to Court to challenge his expulsion? As of now, the ADC has no Presidential candidate.
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