A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has dismissed claims that the opposition coalition hijacked the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that due process was followed in the party’s transition to new leadership.
Dalung made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics, in response to allegations by Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, who had accused coalition leaders of sidelining party stakeholders and entering “through the backdoor.”
According to Kachikwu, the coalition, which was formally unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, lacked legitimacy and was being driven by individuals whose tenure or affiliation with the party had expired. He singled out former ADC chairman Ralph Nwosu, alleging that his term had long lapsed and therefore lacked the authority to hand over the party’s structure.
“The manner in which they came—through the back door—shows you who they are,” Kachikwu said during a separate interview on Politics Today. “People who destroyed Nigeria cannot claim to be the ones to fix it.”
However, Dalung strongly rebutted these claims, maintaining that the coalition talks had been ongoing for over 18 months and were not a product of unilateral decisions. He explained that key ADC stakeholders, including the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), were present at the unveiling, validating the legitimacy of the process.
“The chairman of the board of trustees of the party was in attendance. So, it wasn’t a hijack because the members of the party were there, and the coalition elements were there to witness the transition of leadership,” Dalung stated.
He added that other members of the NWC had voluntarily resigned their positions and were also present at the event, further underscoring the internal consensus that guided the handover.
“If Mr. Kachikwu is unaware of these developments, perhaps it is because he has not remained in touch with the party’s evolving internal dynamics. The term ‘hijack’ may have been used for emotional appeal rather than factual representation,” Dalung remarked.
The opposition coalition, comprising political heavyweights such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and PDP chieftain Dele Momodu, had selected the ADC as its platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, former Senate President David Mark was announced as the interim national chairman of the ADC. In contrast, former Interior Minister and ex-Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola was named interim secretary. The event also marked the formal handover of the party by former chairman Ralph Nwosu.
Mark, in his acceptance speech, declared that the coalition was “on a mission to rescue Nigeria and rebuild its democracy,” a sentiment echoed by many present who decried the country’s economic and social hardships under the current administration.
While Kachikwu continues to dispute the legitimacy of the coalition, Dalung insists that there is institutional continuity and stakeholder endorsement behind the new leadership structure.
“As someone who personally knew Ralph Nwosu as the party chairman for years, I can confirm that his decision to step aside was based on a considered reflection of the party’s future. The ADC is not just changing hands; it is evolving,” Dalung said.
The formation of the coalition comes amid growing public discontent over economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The new bloc seeks to offer a formidable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.