ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, has declared that attempts by a rival faction allegedly led by former Senate President David Mark to take over the party have “failed woefully,” following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja.
Kachikwu described the court’s decision as a validation of his long-standing position that what he called “kangaroo congresses and conventions” conducted by the opposing group were illegal and without legitimacy.
Reacting to the judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, Kachikwu said the court effectively nullified the disputed congresses and conventions organised by the Mark-led faction.
He said the ruling amounted to a “stinging rebuke,” adding that the court found that the group lacked legal standing to conduct such party activities.
According to him, Justice Abdulmalik also held that in the absence of a clear leadership structure, the state chairmen of the party, who constitute the National Executive Committee (NEC), are the rightful authority to organise national conventions and congresses at all levels.
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He further noted that the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the NEC-backed structure.
Kachikwu insisted that he had earlier warned against attempts to “hijack” the party, describing the actors involved as “political buccaneers” who would eventually be exposed.
“With this judgment, it has become clear that these desperados who attempted to hijack our party have failed woefully,” he said.
He also alleged that the faction was now seeking other political platforms to influence, while urging ADC members to remain vigilant.
Kachikwu maintained that the ADC remains a viable political platform ahead of future elections, insisting that the party will still appear on the ballot in the next electoral cycle.
He called on Nigerians seeking political change to consider the ADC as a “home” for democratic participation, stressing that the internal struggle is not yet over.
“The ADC will be on next year’s ballot, and any Nigerian who genuinely desires to salvage Nigeria should see the ADC as a ready home,” he added.