Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election, describing it as compromised and lacking credibility.
The ADC held a nationwide direct primary on Monday to select its candidate for the 2027 presidential election, with key contenders including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, and Amaechi himself.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Amaechi alleged that the exercise was marred by widespread voter exclusion and manipulation, insisting that the results being announced were fabricated.
He said he had earlier pledged to accept only a free, fair, and transparent process, but maintained that the primary failed to meet those standards. According to him, about 80 percent of party members were denied participation, casting doubt on the credibility of the exercise.
Amaechi further argued that the ADC, which positions itself as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress, should not be associated with the same electoral malpractice it often criticises.
He described it as unacceptable for a party that condemns vote buying and result manipulation to be linked with similar practices.
Meanwhile, collation officers for the ADC presidential primary have begun arriving at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the designated venue for the announcement of results.
Early results reportedly show Atiku Abubakar leading, with victories in more than 10 states, including Gombe, Abia, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
In a related development, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also announced that he would not attend the result declaration, citing alleged irregularities and concerns over transparency in the process. He described the emerging results as “concocted,” insisting the exercise did not meet basic democratic standards.
The situation continues to generate political reactions as the party moves toward final result collation.
