Dumebi Kachikwu, a leader of the African Democratic Congress, has charged opposition politicians with appropriating the party’s structure to further former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s bid for president in 2027.
The ADC-led coalition that was formed earlier this month, according to Kachikwu, was never a genuine alliance but rather a political ploy to support Atiku. He made the accusation on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, and other opposition leaders unveiled the coalition under the ADC banner earlier in July as a means of running against the ruling All Progressives Congress in the upcoming general election.
However, despite still having the Labour Party membership card, Obi announced his plan to run for president in 2027 just two days after the launch.
Reacting, Kachikwu said Obi has since realised the coalition is skewed in favour of Atiku and is now reconsidering his involvement.
He said, “The whole ADC structure is being packaged for the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“Since I started warning people about what is happening, we can see what is happening within the coalition.
“Someone like Mr Peter Obi now understands that the whole coalition was packaged for Atiku Abubakar.
“From our understanding, what we are seeing now is that he is looking in other directions, and other people who aspire to run now realise that the coalition was indeed no coalition.
“It was just a vehicle for Atiku Abubakar’s ambition.”
The ADC would not be permitted to support Atiku’s presidential campaign, according to Kachikwu, who has continuously challenged the direction of the coalition.
He added, “The 2027 election will not give room for class exploitation by political leaders.”
The ADC chieftain also vowed to work against the plans of politicians he accused of manipulating the political process, promising to enlighten Nigerians on their rights and political power.
“I will ensure that Nigerians are informed and educated about their political power as citizens,” Kachikwu said.
