Dumebi Kachikwu, founder of Roots TV, says his suspension as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is illegal.
Earlier on Saturday, Bamidele Ajadi, ADC deputy national chairman, in a statement, had said a decision to suspend Kachikwu was taken at the party’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting held on Friday.
He was accused of anti-party activities.
Reacting to the development in a statement, the Roots RV founder said he remains the party’s presidential candidate.
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According to him, members of the party’s national working committee (NWC) behind his suspension are not currently in office as their tenure ended on August 28.
He also blamed the crisis in the party on Ralph Nwosu, chairman of the party who had been recently asked to resign.
“For those who do not know, Nwosu is the longest serving chairman of a political party in the history of Nigeria,” Kachikwu said.
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“He has been serving for the past 17 years. You must understand that this is contrary to the provision of the constitution of the ADC which says that a chairman of the ADC can hold position maximum for consecutive period of two terms of four years each.
“For some reasons best known to INEC, we do not know how Nwosu was able to hold on to that position for the past 17 years.
“Nwosu sought for tenure elongation. He reached me directly and indirectly, pleading for us to extend his tenure.
“Since his tenure has lapsed, it is only the National Executive Council (NEC), made up of state chairmen of the party, which has the power to run the affairs of the party and take decisions.
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“That was why the elements behind my purported suspension sent out an unsigned document to the media, since none of them have any mandate to take any legal action on behalf of the ADC, having ended their tenure since Aug. 28.
“I told them that as the presidential candidate of the party, I will do everything to uphold the constitution of the ADC.”
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