On Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court removed Chief Ralph Nwosu led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The court also nullified all actions taken by executives from the Aug. 21, 2022 till date.
The Court in its ruling affirmed the leadership of Sen. Patricia Akwashiki.
Details later…
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the report that it has opted to work with another political party for the 2023 general elections because it no longer has candidates.
National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, made this known at a news conference on Monday in Abeokuta.
He described the report as “false in its entirety”, saying that all the party’s candidates were still in the race.
According to him, the purveyors of the reports are only riding on the party’s temporary challenge to hoodwink members and lie to the public that ADC had joined them.
“We have been inundated with calls and reports from some quarters that ADC has opted to work with another political party in the state for the coming election and that the party no longer has candidates.
“This is false in its entirety and we use this medium to state that all our candidates remain as they are. We have no pact or working relationship with any political party.
“We are going to contest the general elections and fix Ogun back. No political party should ride on our temporary challenge to hoodwink our members or lie to the public that ADC has joined them.
“Let me state unequivocally that ADC is united, formidable and prepared to provide the credible alternative to the failing, clueless, inhumane administration in Ogun,” he said.
The national chairman expressed optimism that the party was coming back stronger and that it would win at the appellate court.
NAN reports that the Federal High Court in Abeokuta had repudiated the validity of ADC candidates after a motion filed by Labour Party over alleged non-compliance with Electoral Act in the conducts of its primaries.
“We respect the court’s decision and will not query the veracity of those judgments.
“However, it is the considered opinion of our legal representatives that the judgments were drenched in advertent inaccuracies, especially when interrogated with existential contexts, points of law and even recent precedence.
“Consequently, we have filed for redress at the Court of Appeal and we are confident that the orders of the lower courts shall be overturned and all our candidates will be revalidated,” he said.
Nwosu called on party faithful to keep hope alive and continue working assiduously for ADC’s victory at the forthcoming polls.
Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate, says he is not afraid to participate in public debate with presidential candidates of other political parties.
Kachikwu said this on Sunday in Abuja at the ADC Presidential Town hall themed “State of the Nation”.
He said that interactive sessions gave him opportunities to present his arguments on why he was the most credible alternative for presidency come 2023.
“Today’s town hall is one in a series of town halls I have planned across the country before we go to the polls next year.
“Interactive sessions like this afford me an opportunity to present my argument for a Dumebi Kachikwu presidency.
“I get to take questions from you on issues affecting us all and most importantly get feedback on what we can collectively do to rescue our nation.
“So I look forward to many of such meetings with electorate and I’m not afraid to participate in a debate with other contenders,” he said.
Kachikwu said that his decision to contest for the highest office in the land was not a decision he made on the spur but one defined by the very essence of his life.
According to him, It is the only natural progression for someone who has devoted his entire adult life to designing and proposing solutions for the betterment of Nigeria to those who have managed our common welfare.
“I now realise that I must be in the driver’s seat to make the changes needed in Aso Villa. I now understand that merely proposing and complaining are not enough.
“It is time to sit on this table; It is a table of inequity, injustice, iniquity and intolerance but when you sit at the head of the table you get to decide what the menu is going to be.
“This is the seat I seek to occupy so that together we can chart a new course for our nation,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to join him to design a new menu for Nigeria and to constitute a new nation that was not only inclusive for all but guarantees equal rights and expressions to all, irrespective of tribe, tongue and religion.
Kachikwu said that part of his vision for Nigeria was to do away with all colonial relics of division, mistrust and hatred.
He said he would resist Nigeria and rescue it from all those who made religion and tribe their mantra.
“We will zone out all proponents of zoning and usher in a Nigeria that promotes merit, character and know-how above primordial sentiments.
“Every component part of Nigeria is blessed with those who have the talents and abilities to pilot the affairs of Nigeria and we must create the enabling environment for them to emerge in government and governance.
“Nigeria will no longer be associated with mediocrity as we will invest in our citizens, our greatest asset,” he said.
He called for support from electorate, saying that though ADC lacked the structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but was certain of emerging victorious at the polls, using the electorate’s structure.
Mr Emmanuel Oyewole, the running-mate to the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2023 election in Oyo State, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oyewole announced his defection to PDP on Friday in Ibadan
Newsmen reports that Dr Ganiyu Ajadi is the governorship candidate of ADC for the election.
Addressing newsmen at the Nigerian Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Conference Hall, Oyewole said he had defected to PDP to support the re-election bid of Gov.Seyi Makinde.
“I and my followers, spread across the state, have considered this decision and I can say with all sense of responsibility that I have taken this decision in the interest of Oyo State.
“Truth be told, going by the good governance and masterful administration of Gov. Seyi Makinde, the 2023 governorship election in the state should have only one clear contender.
“And that is the incumbent governor, because as they say, one good ‘term’ deserves another”,he said.
Oyewole said the administration of Gov. Makinde was gradually transforming Oyo State to the dream state of residents.
According to him,the different success stories of the Makinde administration in human capacity development, infrastructure development, economic expansion are praise-worthy.
Oyewole said Makinde had also done well in the areas of education, security of lives and properties and health care delivery .
“As loyal and patriotic indigenes of Oyo State, I and the teeming members of the ADC who had earlier signed to my aspiration as ADC deputy governorship candidate, we want these positive developments to continue.
“And we believe that only Gov. Makinde can make this possible,” Oyewole added.
Dumebi Kachikwu, Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress(ADC), has lauded Nigeria’s fallen heroes who lost their lives while defending the integrity of the nation.
Kachikwu said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Anniversary.
According to him, to mark this day, two groups of people must be celebrated, first are our fallen heroes and those who are in the field defending our freedoms and way of life.
“For over a decade our nation has been at war and more often than not we forget the heroic sacrifices made daily by our men and women in uniform.
“They wage war that we may have peace. Our troops have defended other nations, maintained the peace in far flung lands and today have the task of defending our land.
“The second group are the Nigerian masses who are suffering in silence. They stay silent that we may have peace They suffer untold hardships as our economy gets worse, as job opportunities disappear, as our security situation worsens and as food prices escalate.
“These two sets of people are the true heroes of our nation. They maintain the silence of the grave in the face of hardship,” he said.
Kachikwu said that as Nigeria approached the 2023 general election it was important to remember these two sets of people and ensure conversations never depart from them.
He said that Nigerians and the government must focus on this two groups, sustain conversations around them and address concerns so that the labours and suffering of the nations fallen heroes, men and women in uniform and the masses were not in vain.
“He said that the Independence day anniversary should also be used to remember the sacrifices made by the nations forefathers for Nigeria to be free from colonial rule.
“We must remember those who died on both sides of the Nigerian Civil war that our nation may remain united.
“We must remember the poor masses who mostly live on one meal a day. We must remember our troops who are fighting a difficult war.
“If we do this, the silent majority will become the vocal majority and apathy to Nigeria and politics would no longer be an option,” he said.
Kachikwu cautioned Nigerians against trading their votes in 2023 general election for material things such as money, wrappers, Tshirts, face caps and food.
He also advised Nigerians against being used by politicians and political parties as instruments to campaign unjustly by constituting false crowd, supporters and followers.
He said that Nigerians needed to change the narratives and stay true to a just course of only campaign for the right candidate with a clear vision to rescue and restore the country.
According to him , Nigeria needs Nigerians, our troops need Nigerians support, millions of poor Nigerians need Nigerians voice and their vote to rescue and save our country.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi belongs to the same cadre as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu said this on Tuesday while arguing that Nigeria requires people with fresh ideas to turn the nation around.
“The three of them belong to the same old order of politicians who have nothing to offer. There is no difference between Peter Obi, Atiku, and Asiwaju,” Kachikwu told Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“So, there’s no reason we have to come together to get power. I am not in the race because I seek power desperately. I am in this because I feel my country desperately needs change.
“Nigerians want a breath of fresh air. For too long, the vocal minority have had their way and their say in Nigeria. This race will be determined by the silent majority and they are prepared to take back their country,” he added.
The ADC flagbearer lamented that for years, Nigerians have “trusted failures”, noting that the country must now back those with impeccable records.
“What Nigerians are saying to themselves is that for decades we trusted failures, now we better trust those with sterling track records of success,” he added.
“No longer would Nigerians say because he was a local government chairman or a commissioner. They now realise that when they held that office, they never did anything meaningful with it”.
His comment came after a poll by a public advocacy group We2Geda Foundation said going into the election, Labour Party’s Obi is ahead of other candidates by 51 percent.
“Further analysis also shows that Peter Obi remained a consistent favourite in the four major geopolitical zones including North-Central, South-South, South-West and South-East, while Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the poll leader in the NorthEast and North-West zones,” the group said.
But Kachikwu has faulted the exercise, claiming it was “cooked” to favour the sponsors.
“If you were to ask the APC or the PDP about this poll, they will tell you, ‘Give me 24 hours and I will conduct my own poll that shows you I am leading’,” the ADC candidate maintained.
“So, people believe that these polls are just cooked to serve the benefit of whoever is paying for them. That’s what most people believe; so, we will discountenance them.”
Nollywood actress, and running mate to Mr Tonte Ibraye, the Rivers state governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2023 election, Tonto Dikeh, has urged parents/guardians to be courageous as schools resume, saying kids resuming new classes happen to be a critical season of ‘Back to school’.
The renowned actress, turned politician, who took to her Instagram page @tontolet to give advice, said the resumption of schools activities came with financial responsibility.
She added that some activities also came with adjustment of the body system and an increase in domestic assignments, encouraging parents to do their best and get to work.
“Life is in stages, this too will soon pass and it will become a great investment,” he said.
The movie star prayed for parents struggling to send their kids to school, as well as those praying for the fruit of the womb.
” Dear parents/guidance, please be courageous as school resumes. We are in critical moments and season of Back to School where our kids are expected to resume a new class.
“These activities comes with financial responsibility, adjustment of body system, and increase in domestic assignments.
“Dear parents and guidance, as a mother and humanitarian, please be encouraged, do your best and get to work. These too shall soon pass, then it becomes a great investment.
“For those struggling to send Their kids back to school and pay school fees, may the lord help you all,” she said.
“For those who have already paid and made other school commitments, May the Lord sustain it. For those praying for children in other to be under school runs and taking home assignments, May they visit you soon.
“May the lord protect our children, grant them knowledge, wisdom and understanding as they resume.
“God bless our teachers, happy school resumption. Her Excellency, Amb. Tonto Dikeh,” she wrote.
State chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have declared the suspension of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu null and void.
The National Working Committee of the party suspended Kachikwu on Friday over alleged anti-party activities.
His suspension was contained in a statement released on Saturday by the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) of the party, Mr Bamidele Ajadi.
Mr Ajadi accused Mr Kachikwu of making “defamatory’’ statements that contravened the values of the ADC. He also accused him of other anti-party activities.
Mr Ajadi described the action of Mr Kachikwu as a sign of “crass irresponsibility, gross indiscipline, disingenuous scandalisation’’ and an attempt to blackmail the party’s executives to do his bidding.
He stressed that such attitude was improper for someone who wants to be the president of Nigeria.
“The NWC viewed with great concern the baseless and defamatory video circulated by Mr Kachikwu, which was intended to disparage and impugn the integrity of ADC and its national officers,’’ Mr Ajadi wrote in the statement.
State chairmen of the party, however, told a news conference in Abuja on Saturday that a National Working Committee (NWC) whose tenure had elapsed could not suspend the candidate.
They said the tenure of the NWC lapsed in August.
Addressing the news conference, Mr Kingsley Ogga, Chairman of Forum of State Chairmen of ADC noted that the NWC had earlier convened a “fake and kangaroo’’ National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Aug. 26.
He said the fake NEC meeting lacked the constitutional requirement of seven days’ notice to be held.
“The said meeting was overcrowded with unknown persons and miscreants. State chairmen walked out of the meeting as non-NEC members were seated in large numbers.
“The purpose of the illegal meeting is best known to the National Chairman, the National Secretary and other members of the NWC.
“The said purpose was revealed when the fake meeting purportedly extended the tenure of the NWC.
“It is, therefore, important to state here that what transpired on Aug. 26 at the ADC secretariat was fake, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect,’’ Ogga said.
He called on INEC to disregard the illegal suspension of Kachikwu and prevail on ADC to convene to elect a new NWC.
He said since the tenure of the NWC had expired, the states chairmen were in charge and would convene a NEC meeting on Monday to elect new NWC members.
“They do not have the capacity to suspend the presidential candidate; their tenure has expired.
“The people constituted to be NEC members are states chairmen and our serving House of Representatives members,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Secretary of the Chairmen’s Forum, Mr Kenneth Odiom, said Kachikwu was duly elected at the party’s primary election and there were no questions about his emergence.
“Nobody in his right senses will suspend a presidential candidate when election is just around the corner.
“They are claiming that we are at war but there is no crisis in the ADC.
“ It is natural for peoples’ tenure to expire and natural for them to bow out of office.
“We are preaching that we want to reposition Nigeria and we cannot manage our affairs; that means we cannot tell Nigerians to trust us with their votes.
“We must of necessity put our house in order through a democratic process to make us a political party that is ready to change Nigeria for good,’’ he said.
Odiom added that a new caretaker committee would be structured in all the geopolitical zones to determine the affairs of the party for a national convention.
Dumebi Kachikwu, embattled African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, says he remains the party’s candidate for the 2023 election, in spite of his suspension by the National Working Committee (NWC).
Kachikwu, who had last Friday been suspended from the party by the ADC NWC, headed by Chief Ralph Nwosu for alleged anti-party activities, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Kachikwu blamed the problem on the chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, saying: “For those who do not know, Nwosu is the longest serving chairman of a political party in the history of Nigeria.
“He has been serving for the past 17 years, you must understand that this is contrary to the provision of constitution of the ADC which says that a chairman of the ADC can hold position maximum for consecutive period of two terms of four years each.
“For some reasons best known to INEC we do not know how Nwosu was able to hold on to that position for the past 17 years”.
Kachikwu said that tenure of Nwosu and all members of the NWC elapsed on Aug. 28.
“Nwosu sought for tenure elongation, he reached me directly and indirectly pleading for us to extend his tenure,” he said.
Kachikwu said that the forum of state chairmen of the party, however, kicked against the planned tenure elongation saying it was illegal.
“Since his tenure has lapsed it is only the National Executive Council (NEC), made up of state chairmen of the party, which has the power to run the affairs of the party and take decisions.
“That was why the elements behind my purported suspension sent out an unsigned document to the media since none of them have any mandate to take any legal action on behalf of the ADC having ended their tenure since Aug.28,” he said.
Kachikwu said that his purported suspension was due to his stance that the party constitution must be upheld.
”I told them that as the presidential candidate of the party I will do everything to uphold the constitution of the ADC,” he said.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suspended its presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Dumebi Kachikwu, who is the Founder of Roots Television, Nigeria.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kachikwu emerged as the presidential candidate of ADC in June after securing 978 votes party delegates to beat his closest rivals, Kingsley Moghalu and Chukwuka Monye, who polled 589 and 339 votes, respectively.
Following the presidential primary election of the ADC, Kachikwu had picked and unveiled Mr Ahmed Buhari as his running mate for the 2023 elections. The suspension was announced by the party on Saturday.
In a statement by the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) of the party, Dr. Bamidele Ajadi, Kachikwu was suspended after an emergency National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the ADC held on Friday, 2nd September 2022.
ADC accused the suspended presidential candidate of making, publishing and circulating a video described as defamatory, and which the party said was intended to disparage and impugn the integrity and image of a peaceful and transformation-oriented African Democratic Congress and its national officers.
The party noted that Kachikwu’s speech in the said video contravened the principles and values upon which ADC was founded and the specific provision of Article 16 of the ADC Constitution.
Quoting the party’s constitution, Ajadi said: “Act(s) conduct or utterances likely to bring the party into hatred, contempt or ridicule; engaging in dishonest practices, defrauding the party, its members or officials; engaging in anti-party activities; unauthorized publicity of Party dispute or fractionalization or creating parallel Party organ(s) at any level; engaging in any other activities likely to cause disaffection among Party members or likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of party business; belonging to any such factional group or organ; collusion or conspiracy to convene unauthorized meetings, shall constitute acts of gross misconduct.”
Ajadi noted that the NWC strongly believes that to demean the character of the founders and financiers of ADC, who have worked tirelessly to build an enviable brand that Nigerians are proud of and which many great minds have stood elections under, smacks of gross indiscipline.
The party noted that there have been several actions, publications and utterances in the past aimed at maligning the ADC national officers, which the NWC chose to ignore, for peace to reign.
The party added: “The NWC also noted that since the 9th of June 2022 when he was elected the presidential candidate, he has failed, neglected and/or refused to share with the party, any meaningful, constructive or reasonable Presidential Campaign Roadmap for the forthcoming presidential election.
“His negative actions and/or inactions so far, have put in jeopardy the fate and prospects of all our candidates contesting for various offices across the country. The committee of the whole house, in a very clear and unequivocal term, condemned the said video in its entirety and described it as a piece of badly crafted blackmail and mudslinging, and thereby unanimously recommended his immediate suspension from the party from today, Friday 2nd September 2022.
“This resolution would be forwarded to the National Executive Council for further actions.”