By Uko Okon
The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disassociated itself from statements made by Dumebi Kachikwu, a former presidential candidate of the party, regarding the party’s coalition arrangement.
Recall that in a press conference on July 2, 2025, Kachikwu claimed to have rejected the coalition, sparking controversy.
However, the Akwa Ibom State chapter of ADC denounced Kachikwu’s actions, stating that he has no authority to speak on behalf of the party.
The party welcomed the new leadership unveiled on July 2, 2025, comprising Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Arebegahola, and Bolaji Abdullahi as interim national chairman, secretary, and publicity secretary, respectively.
ADC made this known in a statement signed by by its Akwa Ibom State Publicity Secretary, Manfred Ekpe and made available to our correspondent in Uyo on Tuesday.
The statement reads partly, “It is preposterous that Kachikwu who is neither a member of the National Working Committee nor member of the National Executive Council of ADC should ask to be informed of, or carried along in the Party’s decision making process only because he had once been a member of the Party and presidential candidate on the Party’s platform.
“Under what capacity is he acting? The elections are over and Mr Kachikwu should know that fact and should also know his place.
“The Akwa Ibom State chapter of ADC is fully in sync with the coalition arrangement and with the new leadership of our great party as unveiled on 2nd July 2025.
“Accordingly, the Akwa Ibom State chapter wishes to state that Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Arebegahola and Bolaji Abdullahi who were named as the interim national chairman, interim national secretary and interim national publicity secretary of the Party respectively, are well received by the members of the Party in Akwa Ibom State with unquestionable satisfaction.
“We dissociate from Dumebi Kachikwu’s statement and denounce his apparent claim as the party’s national leader”
In a separate development, the party has warned an individual named Etimbuk Umoh to desist from claiming to be the Akwa Ibom State chairman of ADC.
ADC described Umoh as an impersonator and jobber seeking to make capital from the party’s name.
“The ADC Akwa Ibom State chapter hereby issues a disclaimer against the said Etimbuk Umoh, and states that he is not a member of ADC but an impersonator and a jobber who apparently seeks to make negotiable capital from ADC.”
The real chairman of ADC’s Akwa Ibom State chapter is Rt. Hon. Duke Dick, who is in touch with the national leadership, the party clarified.
The party threatened to take legal action against Umoh and other impostors.
