ADC Presidential Primary Crisis: Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Reject ‘Concocted’ Results

ADC Presidential Primary Crisis: Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Reject ‘Concocted’ Results

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is engulfed in a deepening leadership crisis following its presidential primary election held on Monday, with two of its three major aspirants rejecting the outcome. Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has formally rejected the results, labeling them “concocted” and alleging that about 80 percent of party members were systematically prevented from voting.

In a detailed statement issued on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Amaechi accused the party leadership of abandoning the very principles of fairness and transparency upon which the ADC was founded. His protest was swiftly backed by another key contender, economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who announced a boycott of the final collation ceremony, citing “widespread vote rigging.” Meanwhile, partial results collated from several states show former Vice President Atiku Abubakar maintaining a commanding lead, setting the stage for a potential legal battle over the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amaechi: “I Unequivocally Reject the Concocted Results” – Amaechi, who was the Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari, did not mince words in his rejection of the primary process. He stated that the exercise fell far short of the basic standards of a democratic election. “Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the ADC presidential primaries yesterday, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” Amaechi wrote. He reminded the party that his participation was conditional from the start. “I had initially stated that I would 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.” The former governor specifically quantified the scale of the alleged malpractice. “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. Then what makes us different from the others?” he queried, drawing a sharp contrast between the ADC’s stated ideals and its conduct.

Hypocrisy Allegation: “You Cannot Condemn APC and Do the Same” – Amaechi leveled a strong accusation of hypocrisy against the ADC leadership, noting that the party has built its public image on criticizing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for electoral malpractices. “A party that criticizes 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,” he stated. He argued that the ADC was created to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative platform, not to replicate the failures of the establishment. “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,” Amaechi added.

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Hayatu-Deen Joins Revolt, Boycotts Declaration Ceremony – Reinforcing Amaechi’s claims, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a former Managing Director of the defunct FSB International Bank, announced he would not participate in the final collation and declaration of results in Abuja. “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,” Hayatu-Deen posted on his social media handle. His boycott effectively means that only Atiku Abubakar’s camp and party officials are expected at the formal declaration ceremony, raising questions about the legitimacy and unity of the process.

Partial Results Show Atiku with Commanding Lead – Despite the objections from the two aspirants, the ADC National Working Committee has continued the collation of results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to data released from multiple states, Atiku Abubakar is currently leading by a wide margin. Partial results collated from 24 states indicate that Atiku won in 22 states and the FCT, while Amaechi reportedly won in only two states. Below are the official collated results from selected states as announced by various returning officers:

Source: ADC State Collation Centers / Daily Trust

In Imo State specifically, the Chairman of the ADC National Presidential Primary Electoral Panel, Eko Atu, declared that Atiku polled 52,200 votes across 305 political wards and 27 council areas, defeating Amaechi (7,659 votes) and Hayatu-Deen (1,121 votes).

Party Reacts: “Seek Redress Through Proper Channels” – Responding to the growing crisis, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the aggrieved aspirants to channel their complaints through the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms rather than the press. “We currently do not have sufficient evidence to either support or dismiss those claims. Since the results are still being collated, we have not observed any clear pattern that would substantiate such allegations,” Abdullahi said during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He further emphasized that INEC officials have been present throughout the process, adding legitimacy to the collation. “INEC has attended and monitored all our congresses and primary elections across the 36 states and the FCT. Every stage of the process has been fully documented by INEC officials.” Abdullahi also dismissed claims of a parallel faction running a separate primary, stating that INEC recognizes the current National Working Committee as the legitimate body.

What Next? Potential Legal Challenge Looms – With both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejecting the outcome and vowing to “take advice on next steps,” political analysts expect a legal challenge to the ADC presidential primary results. The party had planned to broadcast the final declaration live on major television stations on Tuesday evening, but the legitimacy of that declaration is now in serious doubt. The crisis threatens to fracture the ADC at a critical time as opposition parties reposition for the 2027 Nigerian general election, scheduled for January 16, 2027. The party had hoped to present a united front but now faces the prospect of internal litigation and factionalization.

ADC Presidential Primary Crisis: Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Reject ‘Concocted’ Results