A presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has announced that he will not attend the party’s presidential primary results announcement, alleging widespread electoral irregularities.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen expressed concern over reports of alleged vote manipulation across several parts of the country.
The ADC aspirant said he personally witnessed some of the incidents he described as irregular.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” the statement read.
The development comes amid a closely contested race for the ADC presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen.
The party’s presidential primary collation exercise is scheduled to take place in Abuja, with results expected from across the country.
Ahead of the exercise held on Monday, the ADC urged aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold internal unity.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the primary as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking an alternative political platform.
He said the party remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent candidate-selection process.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” Abdullahi stated.
The party also stressed that the conduct of aspirants and members during the exercise would reflect the democratic culture it seeks to promote.
