Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has rejected the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and irregularities during the exercise held on Monday.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday ahead of the official announcement of the results, Amaechi said the primary failed to meet the standards of transparency and fairness promised by the party.
“Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Primaries yesterday, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” he stated.
Amaechi, one of the three aspirants contesting the ADC presidential ticket alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, insisted he would only accept the outcome of a process that was free, fair, and credible.
“I had initially stated that I will only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair, and transparent, and I stand by my word,” he said.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values the ADC pledged to uphold in rescuing Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement currently being witnessed under the ruling party.”
The former Rivers State governor alleged that a large number of party members were denied the opportunity to vote, arguing that such actions contradicted the founding ideals of the ADC.
“There’s no way that about 80 per cent of party members were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results,” he said.
“Then what makes us different from the others? The whole idea of the ADC was to provide Nigerians with a platform to amplify the voices of the downtrodden and make the country better for everyone, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or background.”
Amaechi further accused the party of engaging in the same electoral practices it had previously criticised in the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“A party that criticises the APC and INEC for vote buying, rigging, and writing results cannot itself engage in the same electoral malpractice that disenfranchises its own members. This is not acceptable,” he added.
Amaechi’s rejection of the process came hours after fellow aspirant Hayatu-Deen also distanced himself from the exercise over alleged irregularities.
In a separate statement posted on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen said he would not attend the announcement of the ADC presidential primary results, citing reports of widespread vote manipulation across the country.
“I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I personally observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” he said.
The ADC presidential primary collation is ongoing in Abuja, with results expected from across the federation.
Ahead of the exercise, the party had urged aspirants, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had earlier described the primary as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative.
He maintained that the party remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process.
