Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2023 general election, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, in this interview in Abuja opens up on the internal crisis rocking his party, the alleged hijack by some northern political elites, and why he believes Nigeria must choose meritocracy over tribe or religion. He also speaks on his ambition ahead of the 2027 poll, among other issues. Sunday Aborisade brings excerpts:
You recently raised the alarm about a plot to hijack the ADC. Can you explain what is happening within your party?
Absolutely. What we’re seeing is a coordinated, brazen attempt by a group of mostly old political actors—what I call a coalition of geriatrics—to hijack the ADC and use it as a vehicle for former Vice President AtikuAbubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition.