The unending crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a new twist yesterday following the expulsion of its presidential candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu from the party.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that also expelled from the party were about seven state ADC Chairmen including Mr. Kennedy Odion (Edo State); Kingsley Oggah (Kogi State); Bello Isiyaku (Sokoto State), Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa State), Clement Ehigiator (FCT); Musa Hassan (Niger State), and Alaka Godwin (Nasarawa State);
But in a swift reaction, the interim National Chairman of the party, Senator Patricia Akwashiki described the action of the erstwhile chairman, Nwosu, as the antics of a sinking man clutching at straws.
Recall that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADC, of which the state chairmen are members had recently constituted an eight-man caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party following the expiration of Nwosu-led exco.
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The appointed caretaker committee was chaired by Akwashiki, who is the current chairman of the Board of Trustees, while Hon. Kennedy Odion was to act as Secretary.
Other members of the new interim national leadership of the ADC include, Ms. Angela Johnson, Prof. Kabiru Dangogo, Manzo Ibrahim, Hon. Lesanmi Omolayo, Hon Kingsley Temitope Ogga and Barr. Emma Dibia as legal Adviser.
But in a counter move, the Ralph Nwosu-led National Working Committee (NWC) suspended 17 state chairmen and some other members of the party for constituting an interim caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party.
However, the embattled National Chairman of the party in a statement issued Saturday said Kachikwu was expelled for anti party activities and violation of the parties constitution.
Nwosu who had been fighting tooth and nail to hang on to the leadership of the party after 17 years said the seven-man panel constituted by the party’s NWC sat for six days and submitted its report on Thursday.
He explained that the NWC of the party met on Friday to deliberate on the report and accepted the report of the panel with modification.
Nwosu stated: “The seven-man Disciplinary Panel set up by the African Democratic Congress, ADC 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 Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others guilty of the allegation leveled against them, subsequently in accordance with article 15 of the party’s constitution recommended that Mr.Dumebi Kachikwu & others be expelled from the party.
“The NWC met on the 16th of September 2022 to deliberate on the report and accepted the report of the panel with modification.”
Nwosu stressed that with this development, the party has taken strategic steps to clean its stable and determined to move into reckoning across the country.
He noted that NWC urged all the candidates and members to focus on the 2023 general election, while rededicating themselves to the ideals of the party.
The NWC also commended the members of the Committee for the courage and commitment shown in the quality of their work and called on all its members to remain focused and continue to be good ambassadors of ADC.
The Nwosu-led exco was however silent on whether the presidential candidate of the party would be replaced or not for the party to contest the 2023 presidential election.