By 
…As interim national leadership describes expulsion as antics of a sinking man
By Charles Nwabardi
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expelled Dumebi Kachikwu, its presidential candidate, to the party over “anti-party activities”.
The decision of the party to suspend Kachikwu and seven other members was conveyed in a statement issued on Saturday by Ralph Nwosu, national chairman of the party.
The presidential candidate had supported the call for Nwosu to resign after holding office for 17 years.
In the statement, the chairman said a seven-member disciplinary panel found Dumebi guilty of all the allegations levelled against him.
“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,” he said.
“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 and 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.
“Consequently, the following individuals are hereby expelled from the Party: Dumebi Kachikwu, Kingsley Oggah, Bello Isiyaka, Kabiru Hussain, Kennedy Odion, Musa Hassan, Clement Ehiator and Alaka Godwin William.
“With this development, the party has taken strategic steps to clean its stable and determined to move into reckoning across the country.”
However, in a twist, the interim national leadership of the party on Saturday, dismissed the purported expulsion of its presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu and other national officers by the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu.
The interim National Chairman of the Party, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, in a statement, described the action of the erstwhile chairman, Nwosu, as the antics of a sinking man clutching at straws.
Akwashiki called on members of the party and Nigerians to ignore the diversionary, divisive and destabilising activities of Nwosu, who is presently lamenting over spilt milk like a whipped child.
She insisted that the ADC would not be distracted by the antics of Nwosu and his hirelings now masquerading as genuine officers of the party.
Akwashiki said: “Nwosu is the former chairman whose tenure had since elapsed but 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 criminal and impersonation by the Nigeria Police.
“The general public is therefore advised to ignore any statement emanating from Nwosu or any member of the former National Working Committee.
“Chief Ralph Nwosu has approached the court to challenge his removal; so, he is advised to wait for the court ruling and stop making a fool of himself.
“The party reiterates that ADC is not for sale and will not enter into any alliance and cautioned potential buyers to beware.
Akwashiki added: “Anything that has a beginning must have an end. Nwosu had been chairman of our great party for 17 years and we thank him for the services he has rendered.
“Now he is no more due to the need to reorganize the party and put her on a sound footing to win elections.
“To continue to arrogate power and cloth himself with borrowed robes amount to impersonation which can only emanate from grand delusion.
“The ADC has moved on. Nwosu should wake up and face reality.The constitution of the party is supreme and there is no provision therein for a life national chairman,” Akwashiki said.
Comments