By Henry Umoru, ABUJA

Barely 24 hours after the African Democratic Congress, ADC, led by former President of the Senate, David Mark, held its National Convention, former presidential candidate of the party, Dumebi Kachikwu has taken a swipe at them, accusing them of defying a subsisting court order and dragging the opposition platform into what he described as “political gangsterism”.

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He alleged that a group he linked to Senator David Mark went ahead to conduct a national convention in clear violation of an order of a Federal High Court issued on April 14, 2026, adding that the court had directed all parties in the suit involving state chairmen of the ADC and the rival faction to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the case.

Addressing Journalists on Wednesday in Abuja Briefing newsmen in Abuja, Kachikwu described the David Mark-led ADC convention as a show of political gangsterism aimed at instigating a breakdown of law and order.

According to him, a Federal High Court in Abuja on 14th of April, 2026, issued an order in the matter between the state chairmen of the ADC and the David Mark-led gang that no congresses or conventions should hold until the matter before the court is adjudicated.

Kachikwu said, “Despite this order, the nation witnessed these desperate politicians hold a convention in the name of the ADC, knowing same to have no locus before the law.

“Can men who continue to flout court orders mean well for the ADC or Nigeria? The simple answer is no.”

The former Presidential candidate who described the development as a dangerous precedent capable of undermining democratic institutions and fostering instability, however warned that the actions of the group suggested a deliberate attempt to provoke a breakdown of law and order.

He said, “They have one agenda and one agenda only—to instigate a complete breakdown of law and order in the country through political gangsterism,” he said. “Their mission statement is: if we can’t have it, no one else can.”

Kachikwu who claimed that the disputed convention was devoid of substance, alleged that participants focused more on attacking the administration of President Bola Tinubu than presenting alternative policies to Nigerians, adding, “What we witnessed was a blame game show where they all tried to outdo each other on who had the harshest words for the president and the APC government.

“Nowhere in that show of shame did you hear any of them offer one suggestion on what they would do better or differently.”

Accusing key opposition figures of failing to address critical national issues despite their influence, raising the name of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, said that both leaders had not done enough to tackle insecurity and economic disruptions linked to unrest in different parts of the country, alleging that political actors were exploiting national tragedies for personal ambition.

He said, “These politicians are playing politics with the blood of innocent Nigerians because they want power at all costs.

“This nation is breaking at the seams and can no longer afford this kind of recklessness,” he said. “The mob you seek to instigate into anarchy may eventually consume you and your families.”

Kachikwu who noted that the “real ADC” remained law-abiding and was proceeding with its plans for a convention in line with due process and in consultation with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said, “We are working within the ambit of the law. We are engaging INEC and will communicate our plans to Nigerians at the appropriate time.”

On the protracted legal disputes within the party, Kachikwu who maintained that the cases in court were limited to specific individuals and did not affect the legitimacy or operations of the mainstream ADC structure, expressed confidence that the judiciary would ultimately resolve the crisis and ensure that the party remains eligible to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general polls.

He said, “We will litigate this matter to the very end to ensure that our members are not disenfranchised.”

Kachikwu who urged President Bola Tinubu to focus on national unity and avoid being distracted by political infighting, said that the president, whom he described as a “wartime leader,” risked alienating a broad segment of Nigerians if urgent steps were not taken to foster cohesion after the 2023 elections.

“For three years, you have allowed yourself to be distracted by the political class,” he said. “You have failed to unite Nigeria after a bitterly contested election.”

Kachikwu who warned that while the president may have secured electoral victory, consolidating peace and national consensus remained a more critical challenge, said, “You may have won the war, but you certainly haven’t won the peace. You have lost the vocal minority; you must not lose the silent majority.”

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