Ex-ADC Presidential Candidate Challenges Atiku to Back Southern Presidency, Says He's Selfish

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Dumebi Kachikwu, the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 elections, has called out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, daring him to publicly endorse a southern presidency for the next six years.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Kachikwu accused Atiku of political insincerity, alleging that the former VP has never supported the idea of a southern president.

“Atiku Abubakar’s track record shows he doesn’t believe anyone from southern Nigeria deserves to be president,” Kachikwu stated. “If he truly wants a better Nigeria, let him publicly declare that equity demands the presidency remains in the South for another six years.”

He framed the challenge as a test of Atiku’s commitment to national unity and fair power rotation.

Kachikwu also criticized what he called a “political gang” attempting to take over the ADC by allegedly bribing state chairmen with millions to resign.

“They are offering some chairmen ₦20 million to step down—proof that their motives are corrupt,” he said, vowing that the ADC would resist such hijacking attempts.

Emphasizing his party’s focus on fresh leadership, Kachikwu declared, “The ADC is not for sale. We stand for new ideas, not recycled politics.”

He dismissed rumors of being a paid spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, joking, “While it would be an honor, that’s not my role.”

Despite internal party crises, Kachikwu reaffirmed the ADC’s dedication to Nigeria’s progress, stating, “Our priority remains the nation and its people.”

The ADC’s future hangs in the balance, but Kachikwu insists the party will uphold integrity and push for transformative leadership.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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