Dumebi Kachikwu says he remains the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, in spite of his suspension by the opposition party.

Recall that the National Working Committee (NWC), headed by Mr Nwosu, had last Friday suspended Mr Kachikwu from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

In a statement on Saturday in Abuja, Mr Kachikwu said that he was blaming the crack in the ADC on the chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu.

“For those who do not know, Nwosu is the longest serving chairman of a political party in the history of Nigeria.

“He has been serving for the past 17 years, you must understand that this is contrary to the provision of constitution of the ADC which says that a chairman of the ADC can hold position maximum for consecutive periods 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,” he said.

Mr Kachikwu said that the tenure of Mr Nwosu and all members of the NWC elapsed on August 28, and that Mr Nwosu had “sought for tenure elongation.”

According to Mr Kachikwu, “He (Mr Nwosu) reached me directly and indirectly pleading for us to extend his tenure,” Mr Kachikwu said, adding that the forum of state chairmen of the party kicked against the planned tenure elongation, saying it was illegal.

“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.

“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 August 28,” he said.

Mr Kachikwu said that his purported suspension was due to his stance that the party constitution must be upheld.

“I told them that as the presidential candidate of the party I will do everything to uphold the constitution of the ADC,” Mr Kachikwu said.

(NAN)