Dumebi Kachikwu: David Mark-led ADC on borrowed time — INEC recognition irresponsible

Dumebi Kachikwu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rejected the recognition of David Mark as national chairman of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On Wednesday, INEC recognised the ADC national working committee (NWC) led by Mark.

Kachikwu, who spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Thursday, described INEC’s decision as irresponsible, adding that he never had faith in the current leadership of the electoral body.

“Nigerians as a whole know that the David Mark-led faction of the ADC is on borrowed time,” Kachikwu said.

“What we saw from the INEC chairman yesterday was another irresponsible act from the outgoing chairman of INEC.”

He said the electoral body ought to respect the courts, as there are pending suits regarding the party’s leadership crisis.

“It is a norm that when you have cases that are in court, you respect those cases that are in court, and you shouldn’t do anything that will affect the outcomes of those cases,” he said.

“The courts are sitting on our matter with David Mark and co next month, and Nigerians will see the rulings after the courts sit.”

Kachikwu accused recycled politicians of destroying Nigeria, adding that the coalition behind Mark’s leadership cannot be trusted to rebuild the country.

“If they (coalition) had leadership that we could look to and say these guys did well for Nigeria, Nigerians today would not be complaining,” he said.

“Nigerians today will not be saying that this country is a failed nation. But the reason why they are saying that Nigeria is a failed nation is because these guys all failed.”

He added that those rallying around Mark were desperate to return to office for personal gain.

“These guys are people who cannot stay outside of political office, who don’t have anything that they do for a living, and the only thing they need to do is to come back to political office so that they can start feathering their nest again and taking care of their friends and family,” he said.

Asked why he refused to align with the Mark-led ADC, Kachikwu said Nigeria’s future cannot be left to “a bunch of former this, former that”.

“Are you saying that in a country of over 200 million people, a bunch of former this, former that are the only people that can mount a rescue mission to save Nigerians from the professional politicians we have had in the last four decades?” he asked.

“I believe we have Nigerians who have got what it takes to save this country.”