The two aspirants made positions known at a different platforms. Amaechi made his position known in a statement posted on his X platform yesterday, following the conclusion of the ADC presidential primaries across the country.
The former Rivers State governor alleged that the exercise was marred by widespread voter disenfranchisement, claiming that a large percentage of party members were denied the opportunity to participate in the process.
“I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” Amaechi stated.
He recalled that he had earlier pledged to accept the outcome of the primaries only if the process was free, fair, and transparent, insisting that the conduct of the election failed to meet those standards.
“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,” he said.
Amaechi argued that the exercise did not reflect the values the ADC claimed to represent as an opposition platform seeking to provide Nigerians with an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, “There’s no way that about eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results.”
He further accused the party leadership of engaging in practices similar to those it had consistently criticized in the ruling APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amaechi maintained that the vision behind the ADC was to provide a credible platform capable of amplifying the voices of ordinary Nigerians and rescuing the country from what he described as “impunity and gross mismanagement.”
“The whole idea of the ADC was to give the Nigerian people a platform, to amplify the voices of the downtrodden, and make Nigeria a better place for everyone irrespective of backgrounds, ethnicity, or religion,” he added.
The former minister’s rejection of the results is expected to heighten tensions within the ADC as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
*Hayatu-Deen alleges rigging in ADC presidential primary
Former presidential aspirant and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has declared that he will not attend the official announcement of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary results, citing concerns over alleged widespread electoral malpractice.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen said he was disturbed by reports of vote rigging from different parts of the country, adding that some of the irregularities were personally observed by him during the exercise.
“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,” he stated.
Hayatu-Deen decision corroborated Ameachi’s position on the outcome of the exercice as both of them alleged widespread manipulations of the primaries conducted across 8,089 wards, where delegates were expected to select the party’s 2027 flag bearer after the leading contenders failed to reach consensus.
Recall that the primary process followed weeks of internal negotiations involving major aspirants, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amechi, and Hayatu-Deen, all of whom declined to step down for one another, forcing the party into a full direct primary.
*Atiku in early lead
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken an early lead in the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
According to the announcement made by the Returning Officers of the exercise in the various states, Atiku has so far secured victories in five states.
The reports trickling in from across the states clearly showed that Atiku had taken the lead ahead of Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Figures obtained across some states showed Atiku maintaining a commanding lead in the early rounds of counting.
Atiku is said to have floored Amaechi in Gombe, Abia, Ebonyi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
The breakdown of Atiku’s votes, as announced by the various state Returning Officers include:
Gombe -139,334
Abia – 25,153
Ebonyi – 15,300
Sokoto – 68,823
Zamfara – 60,500
