Dumebi Kachikwu, standard-bearer of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2023, has described presidential hopefuls in the party as “desperate politicians”.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, Kachikwu said the party’s presidential hopefuls are driven by personal ambition rather than public interest.
He said the national convention organised by the David Mark-led ADC faction on Tuesday defied a court order halting the event.
“Despite this order, the nation witnessed these desperate politicians hold a convention in the name of the African Democratic Congress, knowing the same to have no locus before the law,” he said.
“Can men who continue to flout court orders mean well for the ADC or Nigeria? The simple answer is no.”
Kachikwu said the ADC presidential hopefuls took turns to criticise President Bola Tinubu at the event, rather than tell Nigerians what they would do differently if elected.
“Isn’t the job of the opposition to counter arguments and proposals? he asked.
“What we all witnessed yesterday was a blame game show where they all tried to outdo each other on who had the harshest words for president Tinubu and the APC government. These political merchants are not only clueless but also bereft of ideas.
“My dear Nigerians, you must never forget this. Men with abysmal records in public service now say they are on a rescue mission, but it is a mission to rescue their personal economies.”
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, ex-minister of transportation, and Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, have all declared interest in running for president on the ADC platform in 2027.
The ADC is polarised into three factions led by Mark, Nafiu Bala, and Ogga Kingsley, respectively.
On Saturday, the faction led by Kingsley, backed by Kachikwu, asked the federal high court in Abuja to stop the Mark camp from holding the national convention.
Meanwhile, the supreme court has fixed April 22 to hear an appeal filed by Mark against a suit instituted by Bala’s faction, challenging his leadership.
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