Dumebi Kachikwu, African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s candidate for the 2023 presidential elections has been expelled by the party.
In a statement issued on Saturday morning by ADC’s National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, Kachikwu and seven others were expelled from the party following findings by a seven-man disciplinary committee set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and gross violations of the party’s constitution.
The statement said that the committee sat on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th of September after which they submitted their report on 15th September 2022.
Dumebi Kachikwu and the other seven were found guilty of the allegations levelled against them. and the disciplinary panel in line with Article 15 of the party’s constitution recommended they be expelled.
Following the submission of the panel’s report, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party met on September 16, deliberated on the report and “accepted the report of the panel with modifications.”
The NWC then expelled eight persons, namely: Dumebi Kachikwu, Kingsley Oggah, Bello Isiyaka, Kabiru Hassaini, Kennedy Odion, Musa Hassan, Clement Ehiator, and Alaka Godwin William.
That statement went further to say: “With this development, the party has taken strategic steps to clean its stable and determined to move into reckoning across the country.”
“NWC urged all candidates and members to focus on the 2023 general elections while rededicating themselves to the ideals of the party.”
A letter to stakeholders issued by ADC’s National Director of Communications and Programmes, Ifenla Onigbinde, quotes the national chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu as saying:
“It has been 100 days that Dumebi Kachikwu emerged the candidate of our dear party, the African Democratic Congress ADC. Rather than embark on any form of consultation, planning and strategic work to leverage the party and consolidate his candidacy, he has had a stranglehold on the neck of NWC members with the intention to sniff life out of the party for ominous reasons.
“As at today, Dumebi has not resigned his membership of PDP. Dumebi has arrogated ADC Imperial Majestyship to himself and committing all illegalities; he lured some State Chairmen into calling illegal NEC, tried to dissolve NWC, continued to dehumanize our party and blackmailed ADC leaders and critical stakeholders.
“100 days after, see the polls and where other candidates and parties stand. Dumebi thinks he can lock down ADC for his selfish reasons. We are not willie dealers. I urge all ADC candidates and supporters not to be distracted, rather to remain engaged in their constituencies and focus on greater ideals as we shall effectively deal with the monster to stop the cancer. No matter the darkness ADC must Arise and Shine.”
It is not clear if the expulsion of Kachikwu from ADC really affects his contesting the 2023 polls under ADC other than the withdrawal of his party’s support.
Section 33 of the 2022 Electoral Act reads: “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate. Provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a candidate, the political party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit a fresh candidate to the Commission for the election concerned.”
Unless he had pre-signed a letter of withdrawal from the elections, Kachikwu may still be considered to be ADC’s candidate in the 2023 polls.
The interpretation of Section 33 of the 2022 Electoral Act may still be subjected to judicial interpretation.
Dumebi Kachikwu emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in June 2022 after primaries in which he defeated former CBN Deputy Governor, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu in freak circumstances where Moghalu had been expected to win.
There has been no official response from Dumebi Kachikwu.
