ADC presidential candidate Kachikwu warns INEC against sham elections

As the 2023 general elections draws closer, the presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) Dumebi Kachikwu has warned the independent national electoral commission (INEC) against the conduct of a sham election.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, he expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of INEC in the build-up to the general elections.

Calling on INEC to wake up from its slumber, he said it is unfortunate that his rivals in the race have not come up with practicable solutions to the myriad of challenges besetting the nation.

He added: “We can’t continue to be known as the nation that conducts sham elections. INEC can’t continue to pretend not to see the voter inducement that takes place at rallies all over the country. What of the primaries? Has anyone been indicted, sanctioned or punished?

“There is too much at stake in this election for Nigeria and Nigerians. An INEC that wilfully disobeys court orders has already rigged the elections. Nigeria can’t afford another heartbreak.

“It is a tragedy that a month to the Presidential Elections, the myriad issues that plague our nation have not been debated by the Presidential Candidates. How do we fix our economy other than just saying from consumption to production? Produce what, where and when?

“We can’t continue to deceive our youths and generality of Nigerians with cliches and nice-sounding phrases. How do we solve our energy crisis? Is it okay for Nigerians to perennially queue for fuel or live in darkness in the year 2023?

“What of unemployment, housing, infrastructural deficit, security and our nationhood? When do we discuss and debate these in detail so the Nigerian people know what is at stake in this election? Our nation is in serious trouble.

“Any presidential candidate who thinks he can preside over this nation without a clearly articulated plan on how to fix our problems from day one is living in Lalaland.

“The over 120 million poor Nigerians who carry the burden of our failures are rumbling. When this rumbling will turn into an earthquake, no one knows. God help us all when the earthquake comes.”
He insists that the presidential candidate of the ruling All progressives congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no business being in the race for the plum job.

He claimed that Tinubu lacks the mental and physical capacity to administer the country if he emerges victorious in the presidential poll.

The Delta-born politician likened Tinubu’s well-being to that of President Muhammadu Buhari whose second term tenure expires on May 29 this year.

He thereby called on Tinubu to withdraw from the presidential race adding it would be in the best interest of the ongoing democratic dispensation.

He said: “I personally believe that President Buhari had some good intentions in mind when he ran for office but alas when his health failed, his government also failed. Today, the same APC that failed the Nigerian people monumentally with a sick president has presented another sick candidate to the Nigerian people.

“There is nothing wrong with being old or sick as we will all get old someday. We also all get sick at some point or the other. What I do have a problem with, is a candidate with significant cognitive disabilities embarrassing my nation and making a mockery of the entire political process.

“Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu has no business being in this race or continuing this race. He has said it is his turn and I agree: it is his turn to do the honourable thing and withdraw from this race.

“I call on his family, his party, the APC and President Buhari to prevail on him to do the right thing.”