Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, don reject the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election wey hold on Monday. He allege say there be widespread voter disenfranchisement during the exercise.
For a post on his X handle on Tuesday, before the official announcement of the results, Amaechi say the process no meet the standards of transparency and fairness wey the party promise earlier. “Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement for most parts of the country during the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Primaries yesterday, I unequivocally reject the concocted results wey dem dey announce,” e state.
Amaechi, one of the three contenders for the ADC presidential ticket alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, maintain say e go only accept the outcome of a process wey be free, fair, and transparent. “I don initially state say I go only accept the outcome of the Primaries if the process be free, fair, and transparent, and I stand by my word. I no go accept results from a process wey no reflect the values wey the ADC don pledge to uphold, to rescue Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement wey our country dey face now for the hands of the ruling party,” e tok.
The former Rivers governor allege say a large number of party members no get chance to vote, insisting say such practices contradict the ideals wey the ADC dey founded on. “There’s no way wey about eighty percent of members of the party no be allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results. Then wetin make us different from the others? The whole idea of the ADC na to give the Nigerian people a platform, to amplify the voices of the downtrodden, and make Nigeria a better place for everybody irrespective of backgrounds, ethnicity, or religion,” e add.
Amaechi further accuse the party of engaging for the same electoral malpractices wey e don previously condemn for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “A party wey dey criticize the ruling APC and INEC for vote buying, rigging and writing of results, no fit engage for vote buying, writing of results, and other electoral malpractices wey lead to the disenfranchisement of voters wey be party members. This no dey acceptable!”
Amaechi rejection of the process come hours after fellow aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also withdraw from the exercise over alleged irregularities. For a statement wey e post on X on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen express concern over reports of widespread electoral malpractice across the country, noting say e personally witness some of the incidents. “I no go attend the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I dey concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and I go take advice on my next steps,” the statement read.
The ADC presidential primary collation exercise dey take place for Abuja, with results expected from across the country. Before the nationwide primary, the ADC don urge aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity. For a statement wey dem issue for Abuja on Sunday, the party National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, describe the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians wey dey seek a credible political alternative. According to am, the party remain committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process. “The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party for Nigeria because e be the only political party wey choice of presidential candidate dey determined through open primaries,” Abdullahi state.
Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar don cast im ballot for the ongoing ADC presidential primary election. The opposition party primary poll dey take place for 8,809 wards nationwide. Abubakar vote for the Ajiya ward for Jimeta Yola, Adamawa state. Abubakar dey contest the party presidential ticket against Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank. Speaking with journalists after casting im ballot, Abubakar say the turnout na “clear indication of how party members dey willing to participate for the ADC internal democratic processes”. “I no get doubt say democracy don come to stay,” e tok. For a post on X, Abubakar say the primary election na “major step for our quest to recover our beloved country and set am for the path of prosperity”. Last month, Abubakar, wey don seek to become Nigeria commander-in-chief since the 1990s, say the 2027 election go be im final attempt to run for president. Abubakar don contest for the presidency six times and don appear on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — for 2007, 2019 and 2023. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate defect to the ADC for 2025.
