The founder and Chairman of Roots Television Nigeria, Dumebi Kachikwu has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2023 general elections.
Kachikwu emerged during the party’s Presidential Primary and National Convention held between Wednesday and early Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He polled 978 votes to defeat Kingsley Moghalu, the former Deputy Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, and seven other aspirants.
10 presidential aspirants battled for 2,100 delegates’ votes during the primary which concluded at about 3 am on Thursday, Daily Trust reports.
Other aspirants include Dr Mani Ibrahim, Joyce Ogochukwu Nsaka, Dr. Chike Okogwu, Dr Chukwuka Monye, Lady Angela Johnson, Princess Chichi Ojei, Dr Muhammed Lamido, Bishop Ify-George Oforkansi, Dr Favour Ayodele, Evang. Ebiti Ndok Jegede and others.
Ibrahim, however, stepped down from the race shortly before voting began to allow the emergence of a Southern presidential candidate.
In the end, Kachikwu was declared the winner having polled 978 votes, Kingsley Moghalu came second with 589 votes, while Monye polled 339 votes.
In his welcome address, the National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, lamented that Nigeria had gone from being strong to almost being irrelevant due to the leadership failure of the APC and PDP.
Nwosu disclosed that the party was aiming to produce 75 per cent of lawmakers both at the state and federal levels, who according to him would make quality laws for Nigerians and not for themselves.
“The current National Assembly is too meddlesome, they try to control how political parties are run and sometimes they carry the INEC along. Parties should not be straight-jacketed.
“This country must change, our democracy must change so that Africa can stand.”
He added that the party is poised to salvage the country, saying “nothing must stop us.”
