African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election Dumebi Kachikwu has criticised the leadership of the party led by former Senate President David Mark and also faulted the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Mr Kachikwu described the David Mark-led faction of the ADC as “a group on borrowed time” and accused Yakubu of interfering in the party’s internal matters despite ongoing court cases.
He dismissed a statement issued on Wednesday by ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, claiming Abdullahi was defending financial interests rather than the party.
“Bolaji is a man on a budget. So whenever he talks, he defends the budgets he’s collected from people for the publicity of this their vehicle. They do know that they are on borrowed time. Nigerians as a whole know that the David Mark–led faction of ADC is on borrowed time. There are several court cases,” Kachikwu said.
Turning his criticism to the INEC chairman, Kachikwu alleged that Yakubu had disregarded legal processes in his handling of the ADC matter.
“What we saw from the INEC chairman, Mallam Mahmood, is again another irresponsible act by the outgoing chairman of INEC. He’s a man who has consistently disobeyed court orders. It’s a norm that when you have cases that are in court, you should respect those cases and you shouldn’t do anything that might affect the outcome of those cases. He ought not to have made any pronouncement concerning the ADC,” he said.
Kachikwu maintained that the courts would ultimately resolve the leadership tussle.
“The court is sitting on our matter with David Mark and co, and Nigerians will see the rulings after the court sits,” he added.
The ADC has been in a leadership dispute following the 2023 elections, with multiple factions laying claim to control of the party.
INEC has recognised the Mark-led group, a decision that Kachikwu and his allies are challenging in court.
