ADC Denies Endorsing Peter Obi, Confirms Its Preferred Candidate

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denied reports that it collapsed its structure to form an alliance with any presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

Reports had emerged earlier that the party endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Those who attended the event which also included the forming of the star alliance, were ADC National Chairman, BoT Chairman, and a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Professor Pat Utomi.

Naija News recalls that the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa, had earlier claimed via his Twitter handle that ADC in Lagos State has endorsed the Atiku Abubakar/Okowa Presidential Ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The Delta State Governor revealed this while he and the Governorship candidate of the party in Lagos, Jandor, welcomed the ADC members as they accept their commitment to wholeheartedly work towards securing victory for the PDP in the presidential election.

A statement, however, emerging on Monday afternoon declared as false and fraudulent the reports that ADC has endorsed either of the presidential candidates, including All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu.

The party claimed the said endorsement was staged by some members of a faction of the party who had been going about endorsing any candidate.

The ADC, in a statement in Abuja, described the alleged endorsements as fraudulent, void and of no effect since they were being carried by a faction of the party not known to law for pecuniary gains.

It blamed a faction of the Party, led by its immediate past National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu for the anti-party activity.

The party faction led by its Presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, maintained that Dumebi remained its candidate and it has no connection to the viral endorsements.

It stated that Nwosu’s faction has divided itself into three groups which are now illegally engaged in endorsing parties like the APC, PDP and now Labour Party all in a bid to make quick money.

The party warned those involved in the act to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

It insisted that its Presidential Candidate for 2023, Dumebi Kachikwu, had “long warned about criminals in ADC who sell the party to the bigger parties.

“They have divided themselves into three groups and collected money from APC, PDP and Labour. One party, three endorsements within the space of four days. Shameful,” the statement read.

The party under the interim leadership of Senator Patricia Akwashiki said that those who did the endorsements were “impostors”and “impersonators” who were no longer members of the party and therefore has nothing to do with the authentic ADC recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ADC added: “We are appalled that renegades who are no longer known to the ADC can constitute themselves into a criminal gang to perpetuate illegalities all in the name of making quick money.

“This condemnable action will not stop our party or its presidential candidate from running the race to the very end.

“We are determined to ensure that the bright chances of all ADC candidates in the forthcoming general elections are not sold or
mortgaged as was the practice in the past.

“The arm of the law will soon catch up with all those responsible for these criminal and shameful activities.”