ADC Primary in Turmoil as Amaechi Rejects Atiku Win

Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has rejected the outcome of the presidential primary election conducted by the African Democratic Congress, describing the results as “concocted” and alleging widespread irregularities.

Amaechi, one of the contenders for the ADC presidential ticket alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, made his position known in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Tuesday.

The former Minister of Transportation alleged that many party members were disenfranchised during the nationwide direct primary held across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the African Democratic Congress Presidential Primaries yesterday, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” Amaechi stated.

He insisted he would only accept the outcome of a process that was free, fair and transparent.

“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 asked.

Amaechi also accused the party of repeating the same practices it often criticises in the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“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,” he said.

His protest came hours after Hayatu-Deen announced that he would boycott the final collation and declaration ceremony in Abuja over alleged vote rigging and irregularities.

Despite the objections raised by the two aspirants, collation of results continued at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, with Atiku maintaining a commanding lead in the exercise.

As of late Tuesday night, results announced from 24 states and the FCT showed Atiku winning in 22 states and the FCT, while Amaechi secured victories in only two states.

Atiku recorded major victories in states including Gombe, Sokoto, Kano, Adamawa, Yobe, Abia, Edo and Ondo, further strengthening his position in the race.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Atiku polled 18,704 votes, ahead of Amaechi’s 14,721 votes and Hayatu-Deen’s 5,575 votes.

Amaechi, however, won in Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states.

The controversy surrounding the primary has raised concerns about internal tensions within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Responding to the allegations, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi urged aggrieved aspirants to use the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms instead of making public accusations.

Abdullahi said there was no conclusive evidence at the moment to support claims that the process was rigged in favour of Atiku.

“We currently do not have sufficient evidence to either support or dismiss those claims,” he said, adding that the results collation process was still ongoing.

He also maintained that the current ADC leadership remained legitimate and recognised by INEC, noting that electoral officials monitored all stages of the primaries nationwide.