Dumebi Kachikwu claims northern political figures want ex-President Jonathan to run in 2027 to weaken southern rivals.
He alleges Atiku’s allies have seized ADC structures to advance political ambitions.
Former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has alleged that some northern political figures are encouraging former President Goodluck Jonathan to run in the 2027 election to weaken the chances of President Bola Tinubu, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and other southern candidates.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, August 8, Kachikwu claimed certain ADC coalition leaders told Obi he could not win in the North as an Igbo man and should instead accept a vice-presidential role under former PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar.
He also accused Atiku’s allies, including former Senate President David Mark and ex-Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, of unlawfully taking control of ADC structures to advance Atiku’s political ambitions. According to him, Jonathan is being positioned to entice Obi’s support with an alleged offer of the role of Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
“In all these, Nigerians are the losers because meritocracy has been thrown out the door,” Kachikwu said, accusing northern elites of failing to address poverty and education in their region despite decades in power.
In response, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, dismissed the allegations, calling Kachikwu “an agent of Tinubu’s APC” and describing Atiku as a detribalised Nigerian committed to national unity. ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also denied any wrongdoing and challenged critics to present evidence of constitutional breaches.
