From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally ratified the expulsion of its presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, and his running mate, Hon Ahmed Rufai, from the party.
Others whose expulsion were ratified included the BoT chairman, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, National Vice Chairman (North East) and other state chairmen and party executives.
The expulsion of the members from the party was ratified at a special national convention, which was held at the Ahmadu Bello University Conference Hotel in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Wednesday.
At the convention also, the national officers whose tenure expired were replaced with the election of new national officers by affirmation.
Consequently, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu was returned as National Chairman of ADC, Alhaji Said as Secretary and Mrs Kyauta as Women Leader among other executives for another term of four years.
The returned national Chairman in his acceptance speech appreciated the delegates for reposing in him the mandate to lead the party for another four years, adding that he will certainly lead the party to victory come 2023.
Giving the reason for the expulsion of the party’s presidential candidate, the National Chairman said the candidate has no manifestoes since he was elected as a presidential candidate.
He said the only thing he had done is to work against the interest of the party with the aim to sell the ticket to one of the ‘big’ political parties with impunity.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Special National Convention and director general of the campaign global of the African Democratic Congress Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said “it is my pleasure to welcome you all to this round of periodic National Convention of the African Democratic Congress following the lapse of the statutory tenure of national executives of the party. We call this convention special because it marks the flagged-off of a genuine movement for the people to reclaim their natural and legitimate right to reshape the destiny of Nigerian society.
“we will reach the mountaintop together. Here, I think it is pertinent to underline the fact that the formal purpose of today’s convention is to dissolve the National Working Committee and confirm a new one, adopt the party’s amended constitution, as well as to adopt a statement of discipline to some party members and ratify party principles and goals and adopt the rules for the party’s activities, including the process for the next election cycle.”