Two presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chibuike Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, have rejected the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries, alleging widespread irregularities and voter disenfranchisement.
The development comes as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar maintained a commanding lead in results announced from several states across the country.
Although collation was still ongoing in some areas, results already declared showed Atiku ahead by margins considered difficult for both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to overturn.
Reacting to the exercise in a post shared on X, Amaechi described the results being announced as manipulated and unacceptable.
“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 said.
“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.”
The former Minister of Transportation insisted that the process failed to reflect the values the party promised Nigerians.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold, to rescue Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement that our country is currently facing in the hands of the ruling party,” he added.
Amaechi further alleged that a large number of party members were denied the opportunity to vote.
“There’s no way that about eighty per cent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results. Then what makes us different from the others?” he queried.
He also warned that the ADC risked losing moral ground if it engaged in the same electoral misconduct it criticises in other parties.
“A party that criticises the ruling APC and INEC for vote buying, rigging, and writing of results cannot be engaged in vote buying, writing of results, and other electoral malpractices that lead to the disenfranchisement of voters who are party members. This is not acceptable!” Amaechi stated.
Similarly, Hayatu-Deen announced that he would boycott the official declaration of the presidential primary results over alleged electoral malpractice.
In a statement posted on X, he expressed concerns over reports of vote manipulation across the country, noting that he personally witnessed some of the alleged irregularities.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC presidential election results today,” he said.
“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.”
