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.
The exercise featured key contenders including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, and Amaechi.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Amaechi accused the party of large-scale voter exclusion and manipulation, alleging that the results being announced were fabricated.
He said he had earlier pledged to accept only a free, fair, and transparent process, insisting that the exercise failed that standard.
According to him, about 80 percent of party members were denied participation, questioning the credibility of the entire process.
Amaechi further argued that the ADC, which positions itself as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), should not be associated with the same electoral malpractice it criticises.
He said it was 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 centre for the announcement of results.
Early results reportedly place Atiku Abubakar ahead, with victories in more than 10 states, including Gombe, Abia, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
In a related development, one of the contestants, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, also announced he would not attend the result declaration, citing widespread irregularities and alleged vote rigging observed during the process.
Hayatu-Deen described the results emerging from various wards as “concocted,” insisting that the exercise did not meet basic standards of transparency and fairness.
