The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has described members of the newly formed opposition coalition as “enemies of Nigeria” who are determined to drag the nation backward.
Kachikwu, who spoke on Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, criticised the political alliance, which recently adopted the ADC as its operational platform for the 2027 elections.
“They are enemies of Nigeria. They are enemies of progress. Nigerians can no longer be fooled. Nigerians from all walks of life watched the video—I just saw it today—and what you saw in that hall were ‘former’ this and ‘former’ that: former Vice President, former governors, former ministers. All these ‘formers’ are taking Nigeria back to its former glory. They’ve never taken us forward,” the ex-presidential candidate stated.
In a criticism, the ADC flagbearer lamented the recycling of leaders who he said had brought Nigeria to its current state.
He said, “These same people have ruled Nigeria for the last four decades. Where are we as a country? A nation where 80 per cent of the population is poor. And now they pretend to be the fire brigade, trying to put out the fire they started.”
Kachikwu described the coalition as dominated by older politicians, lamenting that the same figures who have long held power are still positioning themselves to lead, while younger Nigerians remain sidelined.
“Seventy per cent of our population are youths—where were the youths in that gathering? What we saw was a bunch of geriatrics. Seventy per cent of them are above 75 years old, and yet they claim they want to rescue Nigeria.
“These are political jobbers, career office holders. All they do from 9 to 5 is sit at home and complain about the government. That’s not opposition—that’s self-service.
“I weep for Nigerians. I weep for my generation that lost the opportunity for leadership. The same people I watched on television as a child, read about in the news, are the same people still ruling us—and they still want to rule us. They have nothing to offer. We are living in a new age,” he said.
Condemning the coalition’s adoption of the ADC, Kachikwu accused the group of hijacking the party through illegitimate means.
“The manner in which they came—through the back door—shows you who they are. They are back-door people. I’m opposed to viruses and bacteria entering my party. People who destroyed Nigeria cannot claim to be the ones to fix it,” he said.
He dismissed any legitimacy of the coalition’s actions, stating that the party currently has no recognised national chairman.
“Anybody who truly wants to join the ADC should know that Ralph Nwosu’s tenure lapsed two years ago. He has no mandate, no business, and no authority to enter any coalition on our behalf.
“The constitution of my party is clear. To hold any office in the ADC, you must have been a member for at least two years.
“There’s been no convention to amend that. How are they now claiming they’re interim chairman, interim secretary, and declaring across the board that everyone has resigned? That’s just fraudulent,” he said.
Kachikwu added that he and other members will write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for clarification.
“To make things easy for Nigerians, we shall be communicating with INEC. If INEC says that a man who left the party 18 years ago, whose tenure ended two years ago, is now chairman, I will gracefully bow out of the party. I’ll also cease speaking against this coalition,” the ADC chieftain said.
In an earlier statement on Wednesday, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate mocked the opposition coalition’s announcement, saying he watched with “the greatest amusement” as Atiku and his allies declared a takeover of the party’s leadership.
He dismissed them as “yesterday’s men,” saying Nigerians now seek fresh faces and ideas, not recycled leaders.
Earlier in the day, members of the opposition coalition met at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, announcing the ADC as the new platform for their joint political movement.
Former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola were introduced as the interim national chairman and secretary, respectively, following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu.
Among those present in the meeting were Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Peter Obi (Labour Party), former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, Dele Momodu, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and others from the PDP, SDP, and LP.
The coalition hopes to present a united opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
