Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Reject ADC Presidential Primary Results, Allege Rigging
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the outcome of the presidential primaries conducted by the African Democratic Congress on Monday, alleging widespread fraud and voter disenfranchisement.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Amaechi described the results announced by the party as “concocted,” insisting that the process failed to meet acceptable standards of credibility and transparency.
Early figures from some states reportedly showed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar taking a commanding lead in the initial rounds of counting, while Amaechi trailed in second place and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen placed third.
Amaechi said reports from across the country indicated widespread disenfranchisement of party members during the exercise, adding that many eligible voters were denied the opportunity to participate in the primaries.
The former Rivers State governor noted that he had earlier stated he would only accept the outcome of the election if the process was free, fair, and transparent.
He further accused the ADC leadership of betraying the ideals upon which the party was founded, saying the party had promised to serve as a credible alternative platform for Nigerians based on fairness, inclusion, and democratic values.
According to him, the ADC was created to amplify the voices of ordinary Nigerians, but the conduct of the primaries undermined those principles.
Similarly, another presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, also rejected the outcome of the primary election, citing widespread rigging.
In a post on X, Hayatu-Deen announced that he would not attend the official declaration of results in Abuja.
He said he had received disturbing reports of electoral malpractice from several parts of the country, some of which he claimed to have personally witnessed during the exercise.
Benita Ibrahim
