ADC at the verge of tearing apart with onset of full-blown crisis – Nexus News
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), yesterday, teetered on the verge of collapse with the different factions unleashing conflicting messages.
While the press release by the aggrieved National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, dismissed the party’s presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, for reportedly involved in an anti-party activities and violation of the party’s constitution, another statement by the Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, depicted the Nwosu’s-led faction’s action as the antics of a sinking man clutching at straws.
The Akwashiki faction specifically discharged the reported expulsion of some of its prominent leaders, portraying it as a diversionary tactic employed by an ex-official to cause confusion in the party.
Other chieftains of the party affected by the reported expulsion are Kennedy Odion, Kingsley Oggah, Musa Hassan, Bello Isiyaka, Clement Ehiator, Kabiru Hussaini, and Alaka Godwin.
According to the press release: “The seven-man Disciplinary Panel set up by the African Democratic Congress to look into the allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and gross violations of the party’s constitution, amongst others, leveled against Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others, sat on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th of September, respectively and submitted its report formally to the leadership of the party on the 15th of September 2022.
“The panel found Kachikwu and others guilty of the allegation leveled against them, subsequently, in accordance with Article 15 of the party’s constitution, recommended that Kachikwu and others be expelled from the party.
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According to Nwosu, in another statement by the party’s National Director of Communications and Programmes, Mr. Ifenla Oligbinde: “It has been 100 days that Kachikwu emerged as the candidate of our dear party. 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 to sniff life out of the party for ominous reasons.
Subsequent to the alleged expiration of Nwosu’s tenure in office, a caretaker committee, chaired by Senator Akwashiki, was organized to manage the affairs of the party.
But Akwashiki’s efforts to be accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met a brick wall over breach of due process, going against laid down rules, and absence of the chairman and secretary’s signatures.
That notwithstanding, Akwashiki, yesterday beseeched members of the party and indeed Nigerians to disregard the diversionary, divisive, and destabilizing activities of an ex-official, whom she said, “is presently lamenting over spilt milk like a whipped child.”
She emphasized that the ADC would not be distracted by the deeds of some persons and their hirelings now parading as genuine officers of the party.
Akwashiki said: “Chief Ralph Nwosu is the former chairman whose tenure has elapsed, and who now seeks to pull the party down because he failed in his bid to extend his tenure after 17 years as party chairman.
“All expulsions and suspensions from Nwosu and his cabal are merely diversionary and a face-saving measure as he faces investigation for fraud, forgery, and impersonation by the Nigeria Police.
