ADC presidential primary: Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen reject results, allege rigging

We’ve not seen enough to establish rigging allegation -Party spokesman

Atiku leads in Gombe, Abia, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Lagos, Kebbi, Edo

Emeka Agu with agency reports

Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi and another aspirant,  Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, banker-turned-politician, have rejected the party’s presidential primary election results.

Amaechi made this known in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement during the ADC presidential primaries.

He described the results as fabricated, insisting that he would only accept outcomes from a process that was free, fair, transparent and credible to participants.

“Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the ADC presidential primaries, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” he stated.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers, said he had earlier maintained that acceptance of the election outcome depended entirely on the credibility, transparency and fairness of the primary election.

“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.

“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 said.

Amaechi alleged that nearly 80 percent of party members were prevented from voting, questioning the moral difference between the ADC and other political parties.

He said that ADC was created to provide ordinary Nigerians with a platform to amplify their voices and promote national unity, irrespective of ethnicity or religion.

Amaechi further stated that a party criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress and INEC over vote buying and rigging should not engage in similar electoral malpractices internally.

He described the alleged vote buying, result manipulation and disenfranchisement of party members during the exercise as unacceptable and inconsistent with democratic standards and accountability.

In the same vein, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, one of three presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rejected the party’s primary process, alleging widespread vote manipulation and irregularities across the country.

In an emotional, strongly worded reaction on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen said he would boycott the official announcement of the results, insisting that the exercise had been compromised and no longer reflected the will of party members.

 “I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today,” he wrote on X.

 “I am deeply disturbed by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I personally witnessed. What was meant to be a democratic process has sadly been reduced to manipulation and coordinated interference. I will now consult with my team and supporters on the next line of action,” he added.

However, the African Democratic Congress has cleared the air on the rigging allegation of one of its presidential candidates, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Speaking during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television, on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said they do not have any evidence to support or deny the allegation.

Hayatu-Deen had announced that he would not attend the party’s presidential election results announcement, citing concerns over alleged widespread irregularities in the exercise.

Reacting, the party’s spokesman said, “We don’t have any evidence to be able to support his position or to deny his position because we’ve not collated the results.

“We’ve not noticed any pattern in the result, and we’ve not seen enough to be able to establish a pattern.

“Eleven states’ results have been received so far. We are still awaiting other results. Any moment from now we are going to start the collation.”

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday evening took an early lead in the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress, securing victories in no less than nine states as delegates across the country voted to determine the party’s flag-bearer for the 2027 presidential election.

The primary was contested by Atiku, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former banker-turned-politician, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Although the party’s national leadership is yet to formally announce the final collated results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, figures obtained across some states showed Atiku maintaining a commanding lead in the early rounds of counting.

The former vice president reportedly won in Gombe, Abia, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Lagos, Kebbi and Edo states, strengthening expectations that he may emerge as the party’s presidential candidate if the trend continues.

In Gombe State, results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. David Agbu, showed that Atiku polled 139,334 votes. Amaechi came in a distant second with 1,150 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 464 votes.

Atiku also topped the poll in Abia State, garnering 25,153 votes ahead of Amaechi, who scored 18,339 votes. Hayatu-Deen received 3,264 votes.

In Ebonyi State, the former vice president recorded another overwhelming victory. Results announced by the ADC National Vice Chairman (Diaspora), Fred Onwe, indicated that Atiku secured 15,300 votes, while Amaechi polled 2,200 votes and Hayatu-Deen managed 200 votes.

The Sokoto results further underscored Atiku’s dominance in the early stages of the exercise. He polled 68,823 votes, leaving Amaechi with 292 votes and Hayatu-Deen with 319 votes.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar also won the election in the three states, defeating ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatudeen.

In Kano State, Atiku scored 155,995 votes while Amaechi got 15,914 votes.

Hayatudeen came third with 9,994 votes.

In Lagos State, Atiku scored 37,779 votes while Amaechi and Hayatudeen got 6,791 and 2,261 votes, respectively.

In Kebbi State, the former VP also garnered 65,153 votes to defeat Amaechi, who scored 5,931 votes.

In Edo State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was also declared winner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary in Edo.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Dr Mabel Adinkwu, announced the result on Tuesday in Benin.

Adinkwu said a total of 32,263 party members were registered for the primary.

According to her, Abubakar polled 17,729 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, who secured 10,116 votes, while Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen garnered 1,906 votes.

She added that, having scored the highest number of votes, Abubakar was duly declared winner of the primary.