Dumebi Kachikwu has dismissed claims that his bloc is a faction within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting his group remains the authentic party structure recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kachikwu made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on AIT’s Political Platform, a day after his camp dissolved the David Mark-led national working committee (NWC) and adopted him as the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Addressing the deepening leadership crisis in the party, Kachikwu argued that the real faction within the ADC was the bloc linked to David Mark, Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures.
“Well, I’m sorry to tell you this, but we’re not a faction. We are the ADC. The people whom you’ve mentioned, Atiku and co., are the people who are factions,” he said.
Kachikwu maintained that the convention organised by his camp reflected the party’s recognised structure, claiming state executives acknowledged by INEC attended the gathering.
“If you watched our convention yesterday, you will see ADC faithful from all over Nigeria. All the state chairmen of the ADC, as recognized by INEC, were there yesterday,” he said.
He also downplayed the influence of the Mark-led bloc, describing its growing public profile as a narrative amplified by the media over the past year.
“I think what has happened is that in the last one year, the media has built this myth about an ADC of David Mark and co., Atiku and co., Peter Obi and co., before they left,” he said.
“And I’ve always said, I mean, I said since last year, that ultimately, when all the dust is settled, we’ll see the real ADC.”
Kachikwu further claimed his camp acted lawfully, citing a subsisting court order which he said empowered them to conduct congresses and conventions on behalf of the party.
“Because it’s a subsisting court order that said that we are the only ones who have the right to conduct congresses and conventions. And it’s based on that that we did conduct our convention yesterday,” he said.
When asked whether INEC officials monitored the exercise, Kachikwu replied: “Yes, they were there.”
He also accused the rival camp of attempting to pressure him through public opinion after he refused to relinquish control of the party structure.
“They said to me when they came into our party that they will try me before the court of public opinion if I don’t let them have their way,” he said.
“And I’ve said that I’m the last person who cares about your trial in the court of public opinion.”
Kachikwu ended the interview by criticising Nigeria’s political class, accusing politicians of focusing on power struggles while insecurity continues to worsen across the country.
“Our country is at war. People are being kidnapped, people are being killed every day, our streets are flowing with the blood of the innocent,” he said.
“And so instead of our politicians should come to a round table to say, ‘How do we stop this?’. We are playing politics with this.”
