ADC Convention: Kachikwu Accepts Presidential Ticket, Promises Issue-Based Campaign

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has pledged to lead an issue-based campaign focused on national unity, economic recovery, and inclusive governance ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during the ADC convention in Abuja, Kachikwu said Nigeria was at a critical stage in its history and needed courageous leadership capable of addressing insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, and social division.

He thanked party leaders, delegates, and supporters for the confidence reposed in him, describing his emergence as a call to service and national sacrifice.

According to him, leadership should not be about occupying positions of power but about responsibility, accountability, and service to the people.

“For too long, politics has benefited only a few while the majority of Nigerians continue to suffer. That must change,” he stated.

Kachikwu said the ADC remained committed to rebuilding public trust and restoring hope through policies driven by merit, competence, and patriotism rather than ethnicity or political favoritism.

He stressed that elections should be contests of ideas and practical solutions, not campaigns built on division, identity politics, or empty promises.

The ADC flag bearer challenged political actors to present clear economic blueprints to Nigerians, including plans for production, job creation, industrial growth, and sustainable development.

Kachikwu also advocated greater inclusion of women and young people in governance, noting that no modern society could develop while excluding critical segments of its population from decision-making.

He further urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite current challenges, assuring that responsible leadership and collective commitment could reposition the country for progress and prosperity.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the ADC, Abdulkadir Mohammed Bashir, called for strict adherence to the party’s constitution and democratic principles amid the party’s internal crisis.

Bashir said no individual was bigger than the party, warning against selfishness and injustice within political organisations, which he said often fuel division and weaken party structures.

He reaffirmed the ADC’s determination to provide constructive opposition in the country and appealed to aggrieved members to return and work together towards strengthening the party ahead of future elections.

Earlier, the BoT Chairman, Kingsley Ogga, described the convention as a defining moment for the party, saying the ADC had emerged stronger despite internal challenges and political turbulence.

Addressing delegates and stakeholders, Ogga said the convention represented “a statement of survival, resilience, unity, and hope” for the party and its members nationwide.

According to him, many members remained loyal despite pressures, intimidation, distractions, and internal disagreements, adding that their sacrifices had sustained the vision of building a credible political alternative for Nigerians.

Ogga stressed that unity, discipline, and sacrifice remained critical to the survival and growth of any political party, urging members to recommit themselves to fairness, accountability, inclusion, and mutual respect.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji