Dumebi Kachikwu, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has issued a stern warning to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, against any consideration of joining forces with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a running mate in the 2027 elections. Kachikwu, speaking at a press conference in Abuja, vehemently denounced such a potential alliance as not only politically immoral but also a grave injustice, particularly given Nigeria’s established principle of power rotation between the North and South. He emphasized that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, in office, it is only equitable and morally right for any major party’s presidential candidate in 2027 to hail from the southern region. This principle, according to Kachikwu, underscores the fundamental need for balanced representation and a sense of fairness in the nation’s political landscape.
Kachikwu’s condemnation extended beyond the proposed Obi-Atiku ticket to encompass a broader critique of northern political actors. He accused them of maneuvering to retain power in the North despite the established rotation convention. He pointed to their recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, questioning their motives and the absence of concrete policy alternatives. Kachikwu highlighted the irony of their attacks on Tinubu while simultaneously failing to address pressing national issues, such as the ailing healthcare system, evidenced by the recent death of a former president in a London hospital. He argued that their focus seems solely fixated on Tinubu’s removal, lacking any substantive vision for the country’s future.
The ADC chieftain further expressed deep concern over what he perceived as a calculated effort to pressure Obi into accepting a subservient role as Atiku’s running mate. He characterized these attempts as manipulative tactics designed to undermine Obi’s presidential ambitions. Kachikwu firmly believes that Obi possesses the intellectual capacity and popular support to contend for and win the presidency independently, dismissing any suggestions that Obi’s Igbo ethnicity should be a barrier to his aspirations. He underscored this point by drawing a parallel to his own experience, where he faced similar prejudiced dismissals based on his Igbo identity. Kachikwu argued that such discriminatory notions are antithetical to the principles of equal opportunity and meritocracy that should underpin a democratic society.
Kachikwu called for any coalition seeking to challenge Tinubu’s presidency to be anchored in the South and grounded in the principles of equity and national unity. He believes that only such an arrangement can ensure a fair and balanced political playing field and foster a sense of inclusiveness across the nation. Furthermore, he criticized clandestine attempts to destabilize the ADC through financial inducements, alleging that certain state chairmen were being offered substantial sums of money to resign their positions. This, according to Kachikwu, underscores the dishonorable intentions of those seeking to hijack the party structure for personal gain. He asserted that even if these attempts were successful, the party’s constitution would prevent outsiders from assuming those roles, rendering the entire scheme futile.
Kachikwu directly implicated Atiku in these machinations, pointing to his past actions as evidence of a pattern of self-serving political maneuvering. He recounted instances where Atiku allegedly attempted to undermine the second term bids of both Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, driven by what Kachikwu perceived as an overweening ambition for the presidency. These actions, Kachikwu argued, contributed to the current fragmentation within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). To test the veracity of his claims, Kachikwu challenged Atiku to publicly endorse the continuation of the presidency in the South for another six years, thereby demonstrating a commitment to equity and national unity.
In a final, pointed rebuke, Kachikwu declared that the ADC is not for sale and should not be treated as a platform for personal political vendettas or the ambition of a select few. He urged those focused on internal power struggles within their own parties to address their internal issues rather than attempting to infiltrate and destabilize other parties. Kachikwu affirmed his commitment to building and strengthening the ADC, contrasting his approach with what he perceived as the destructive tactics employed by others. He underscored the need for principled political engagement focused on national development and unity, rather than self-serving maneuvers that undermine the democratic process.
