2023 Poll: INEC Frustrating My Presidential Ambition, Alleges Kachikwu

By Adamu Abuh, Abuja

The Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating his ambition.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, he wondered why INEC chose to release the agent codes to the Chief Ralph Nwosu faction of the party, despite of the ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which nullified his tenure.

Kachikwu said as things stand now, he doesn’t have agents that would protect his interest on election day across the country.

Noting that he will not chicken out of the presidential race due to the development, he disclosed that he would approach the court to seek redress on the matter.

He said:  “After achieving their nefarious objectives, last week, the same INEC wrote Senator Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of our party, affirming and accepting that there exists a leadership vacuum within the party since the tenure of Nwosu had since lapsed and asking for arbitration between the factions in the party.”

“This is very disingenuous of INEC because they only chose to do this after the deadline for agent submission had elapsed. ADC candidates across the country have informed me that the same agent codes have been sold by the Nwosu faction to the highest bidder from other parties.

“INEC has not only damaged and frustrated my candidacy and that of most candidates in my party, but they have undermined the integrity of the elections.

“I am now in consultations with my legal team and the overriding aim of any legal action will be to ensure that INEC doesn’t continue in this practice of working with smaller parties to work as extensions or agents of the bigger parties.”

He also faulted the story making the round that he has concluded arrangement to adopt the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.

Kachikwu said: “Today I chose to respond. Like many Nigerians, I had hoped that the APC and PDP would present the next generation of leaders to Nigerians. I personally looked forward to a contest between two of the most brilliant minds the two parties had to offer – Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

“A contest between the two of them would have presented Nigerians with the best of ideas, an issue-based campaigns and abundant solutions to our myriad problems. But alas, Nigeria happened, Okowa failed to run and APC chose Tinubu over Osinbajo.

“I entered this race when it became clear to me that Okowa wouldn’t run and Osinbajo would fail to emerge as the APC candidate. The Labour candidate has failed to proffer solutions on the myriad issues that plague our nation and instead has ridden on the divisive platform of tribe, tongue and religion.

“In addition to being able to identify, understand and proffer solutions to our many problems, I am running for office because I strongly believe that tribe, tongue and religion should no longer play a role in our politics or in governance. Tribe and religion have destroyed Nigeria for too long.”

Source: The Guardian