‘INEC Has Done Its Job, No Factions In ADC’, Kenneth Okonkwo Tells Kachikwu

Actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has dismissed claims that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was divided into factions, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted lawfully by recognising erstwhile Senate President David Mark arsenic the party’s chairman.

Okonkwo, who spoke connected Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’, connected Friday, was reacting to remarks by the ADC’s 2023 statesmanlike candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu.

Kachikwu had connected Thursday nighttime described the Mark-led enactment arsenic being “on borrowed time” and accused INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of acting irresponsibly.

But, Okonkwo said INEC’s determination was grounded successful law, stressing that nary authority, not adjacent the president, has the powerfulness to dictate to the electoral commission.

He said, “INEC is simply a carnal of the instrumentality and they ought to beryllium autarkic successful the pursuit of each its functions and the workout of each its power. Not adjacent the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has immoderate powerfulness implicit INEC.

“So we shouldn’t travel to the constituent successful this state wherever we applaud radical for doing what they are paid to do. INEC has simply done its occupation according to the law. But due to the fact that we are nary longer utilized to agencies doing their jobs according to the law, we inactive request to accidental convey you, due to the fact that successful Nigeria, it is unusual erstwhile they bash their job.”

He added that the electoral assemblage was just successful its designation of Senator Mark and erstwhile Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, arsenic president and caput of the ADC, respectively.

“INEC was just successful the dealing of David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola arsenic the president and caput of ADC. Whether it volition beryllium just successful predetermination is simply a hypothetical question, but we commune that determination volition beryllium nary method glitches.”

He added, “As you know, I’ve searched done the constitution and the Electoral Act and I’ve not recovered immoderate method glitch successful it. So, they should halt importing extraneous issues into what they are doing. They should enactment with the instrumentality arsenic they stayed with the instrumentality successful the designation of David Mark and Aregbesola arsenic president and nationalist secretary.”

Okonkwo besides criticised the media for describing the ADC arsenic factionalised, arguing that the enactment has lone 1 enactment recognised by law.

He said, “Please, whitethorn I usage this accidental to plead with the media: determination is thing similar the David Mark-led faction of ADC, arsenic if determination is immoderate different faction. And ADC is not a caller party; ADC is older than APC. It started successful 2005. Even radical that came yesterday are saying they are dissatisfied—nobody that ought to beryllium satisfied is dissatisfied successful ADC.”