ADC Leadership Crisis: Dumebi Kachikwu Describes Verdict As Blow To Party Takeover

Hinzugefügt: 2026-04-30

[00:00:00]Tonight on TVC News at 10, I am Abosi Ad.

[00:00:04]Well, let's at kickoff with judicial matters. The federal high court in Abuja has restrained the independent national electoral commission in from recognizing or participating in any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Ketica leadership of the African Democratic Congress ADC. Justice Joyce Abdul Malik held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with the parties state executive committees, not the national leadership.

[00:00:34]The court further ruled that the 4-year tenure of the ADC's state working committees and state executive committees remains valid and subsistent pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the convocation of a national convention.

[00:00:50]Justice Abdul Malik also held that neither the constitution of Nigeria nor that of the party empowers the Ketaka or interim national working committee led by David Mark to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses and former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress Dumeu has commended the court's ruling on disputed party congresses describing it as a decisive blow to what he called an attempted takeover of the party's leadership structure. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja alongside some state chairman of the party, Mr. Tako says the judgment validated earlier concerns that certain individuals were trying to seize control of the ADC through illegitimate means before a lower court and the lower court has said maintain status quo antibbellum right and they have gone to court to challenge that but the case has not been heard is there any reason why they running from the case being heard so I believe that What makes common sense is for the Supreme Court to still refer them back to the lower court. And I'm sure that is what we will see. If you speak to any lawyer, everyone tell knows what they expecting from that judgment.

[00:02:15]Um whenever that judgment is going to be given, everyone knows what to expect. Um if you have a case, just like what we what happened in our case, they did everything possible to keep on prolonging the um the so-called evil day. But judgment finally came and that's what's happening. All the cases that the ADC is in court, all you see them is trying to use different legal tactics and maneuvering just to avoid uh judgments.

[00:02:41]Let's return to our earlier report where the federal high court in Abuja restrained the INC from recognizing or participating in any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Keta leadership of the African Democratic Congress ADC. Joining me on TVC News at 10 is lawyer Liberus Oshima.

[00:03:03]Mr. Sha, what are your thoughts about this court ruling and what exactly is at import for the ADC standing ahead of next year's election?

[00:03:13]>> Yeah, thank you very much. Um you know they have been in inaudated with calls on this ruling people asking me but section 83 says that um the court shall not interfere internal affairs of the party and um I have consistently maintained that that is not the interpretation of section 83 of the constitution. It is sorry of the electoral act 2026. it does not give um the party a clear direction to do as they like. In fact, this introduction of section 83 was a fallout of sub consistent court ruling you know holding that the party the court should not interfere in internal party affairs of the party. But however, when those affairs borders on breach of the clear provisions of the con of the party, borders on the breach of se of some sections of the electoral act and the breach of the conal provisions and also touches on criminality, the court is often invited to interfere because if that's not the case, that would mean the political parties having the power, you know, the detectoral powers to do as they So in that regard, if you remember as far back as 2022, some leaders of the party had been at loggerhead with um the former national chairman of the party Rafosu. Some of these leaders uh state leaders were actually loyal to Dumi Kachuku. You saw him in the press conference flanked by these leaders. They had also at some point um visited some of your stations alleging that their signatures were forged. So that suit had been in the court you know for some time now and the judge in um in its wisdom the court in its wisdom head that um the party has a right to interfere when there is a breach of the constitution. So what that means for the ADC is that whatever happens tomorrow there is still you know a fresh fresh matter you know having a life of its own for them to contend with.

[00:05:29]>> But do you suppose that as it stands now the Ketaka committee has presently constituted you know can actually close ranks with legacy members of the ADC to resolve this issue before next election.

[00:05:45]Yeah, I think um the way it is it is easier. I think it is um it would have been better for them to close if they able because you know politicians at this stage I think it might be just too late in the day but if they are able to actually come together sit down a round table and close rounds then that would be a very good idea but I doubt that will happen considering the viral video where we saw the chief of staff to the president urging um honorable Abbejiday on to stay and and destroy and you know all of that that they in support you know so from the way things are I think some of these people would probably you know have been um you know have entered into alliance with maybe members of the ruling party I'm not saying I'm just saying I'm alleging on the basis of that video you know that could like you mentioned >> yes Mr. Osha like you mentioned you know that could have just been a statement the same way for instance when the president mentioned that it's my pleasure to see them in disarray because it's not his duty you know to put to help opposition uh put their party in order but if you were to cancel the ADC what would be a wise political move for the coalition going forward >> no I didn't get I didn't get that you said what >> yeah I'm only I was only responding that that comment you know coming from the chief of staff you know might just be like a just a statement to the gentleman the same way for instance that the president declared that you know it is his pleasure to see the opposition in disarray because it's not his duty to help them put their house in order so then I was also asking you what will be your counsel to the ADC going forward what would be the wise political move for them to make >> the president's statement is different from the chief of staff statement the president's statement it's a statement you can say well certainly nobody would want to help his enemy resolve their problem unlike the chief of staff statement saying remain there destroy claim it we are proud of you you know these are two different statement but be that as it may Nigerian political parties or elections are like royal rumbles certainly they you know they party in power will look for ways to even look for mole in your party to ensure that you know they help f further create confusion in your party they all do it to themselves Yes. So in that regard I think that that's why I would um subscribe to the idea of the ADC closing ranks with the members of um the state executive uh the members of what do you call it the um uh ADOC or or the Kical committee closing rank with the state executive because if you look at the court judgment the party the court you know also ruled that the idea of a ketical committee is alien to the constitution of the party and senator Abu had also said that previously you know before he resigned from the party that the idea of a ketica committee was alien to the party. So I think the idea would have been when they came into the party they would have also managed the committees of the party the national uh the ketica committee would have been able to manage the existing eso of the party until a national convention is conducted. If they had waited, you know, uh, without attempting to take over the structure of the party, probably by now they would have been able to conduct a peaceful national convention without all of this rank. But as it stands today, >> yes, Mr. >> The attempt to take over the structure of the party actually created all of this problem.

[00:09:26]>> Lawyer Labor Sha, thank you for your time on TVC News at 10.

[00:09:31]>> My pleasure. Thank you.