‘I Didn’t Buy ADC Form to Be VP,’ Amaechi Dismisses Speculation

ABUJA, NIGERIA – Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has firmly dismissed claims that he was offered the vice-presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following his loss in the party’s presidential primary, declaring that nobody has ever proposed that role to him because political actors understand his value . Speaking in an exclusive interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo on the “#WithChude” platform at his Abuja residence as he marked his 61st birthday, Amaechi addressed growing political speculation surrounding his future after coming second in the ADC presidential primary . “No one has asked me to be VP,” Amaechi said firmly . He explained that before he released his statement rejecting the outcome of the ADC presidential primary, he and fellow aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen held consultations and both agreed on the approach .

“I went to see the national chairman of ADC. After our discussion, he walked me to the exit door, I shook his hands and I left. We discussed something different from what they wrote about,” Amaechi revealed, referring to Senator David Mark, the ADC National Chairman . “But people said I stormed out after he told me to run for VP. But I am not joking; nobody has ever told me to be vice-president because they know my worth and what will be my reaction,” he added . Amaechi’s denial comes amid swirling rumours that the ADC leadership had attempted to placate him with the vice-presidential slot after Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s presidential flagbearer. The former minister’s rejection of the VP speculation is inseparable from his outright rejection of the ADC presidential primary outcome. The primary election, held on Monday, May 25, 2026, saw Atiku Abubakar declared winner with 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi came second with 504,117 votes and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes . Daily Trust reported slightly different figures: Atiku 1,855,787, Amaechi 509,397, and Hayatu-Deen 180,903.

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However, immediately after the exercise, Amaechi took to his X handle to denounce the process. “Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries yesterday, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” Amaechi wrote . He listed manipulation of results, failure of the process to reflect the values ADC pledged to uphold, the exclusion of about eighty percent of party members from voting, vote buying, rigging, and writing of results as his reasons for rejecting the primaries . “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,” he added . The former Rivers governor argued that a party criticising the ruling APC and INEC for vote buying, rigging, and writing of results cannot engage in the same electoral malpractices .

In a strongly worded interview, Amaechi remained defiant, stating: “I stand by what I said about ‘concocted results’,” while clarifying that he remains a member of the ADC . “But I am still a member of ADC,” he added, suggesting that while he disputes the process, he has not yet exited the party . He also used the interview to reflect on his political record, insisting he is different from politicians driven only by personal gain. “People say politicians lie, but I don’t lie. My record speaks for me,” he said .

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who came third in the primary, also rejected 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 . The collation of results was initially suspended on Tuesday night after results from 25 states had been announced before resuming on Wednesday . Adding to the voices of dissent, an ADC chieftain and supporter of Amaechi’s presidential bid, Ibrahim Garba Wala, backed the former minister’s rejection of the primary process, describing the exercise as flawed and lacking credibility . Wala, who monitored the presidential primary in Gombe State, wrote extensively about what he witnessed. “What we witnessed during the primary elections was not a democratic primary; it was a brazen, shameless auction that betrayed every value the ADC promised to uphold,” he alleged . He detailed irregularities including “The Hotel Situation Room,” where party officials treated a hotel room “exactly like a clandestine situation room where the state party leadership retired after their field day to finish their manipulative work behind closed doors” . He also accused the process of “weaponizing religion and region against the poor,” alleging that in Gombe State, the election was engineered so that “only a homogeneous crowd of predominantly Muslim men and women were present, without a single Christian or representative of other native tribes in attendance” .

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Despite the growing crisis, Atiku Abubakar has made efforts to unify the party. On Thursday, May 28, 2026, he visited Amaechi at his Abuja residence, accompanied by Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal . Atiku disclosed the visit in a post on his Facebook page, describing Amaechi as “my brother and compatriot” and stating that both men held “deep and honest conversations” about Nigeria’s worsening economic and security situation . “Beyond the warmth and camaraderie, we had deep and honest conversations about the troubling state of our nation, the growing economic pain, insecurity, and the urgent responsibility on patriotic Nigerians to continue engaging in the search for solutions that can rescue our country from drift and despair,” Atiku wrote . The former vice president also noted that he felicitated Amaechi on his birthday and exchanged banters over Arsenal Football Club’s recent triumph . However, a source close to Atiku told Premium Times that Amaechi remained noncommittal during the meeting. “He only listened to our principal, exchanged banters with him and said he would make his decision on the ADC presidential ticket known after consulting his associates and supporters,” the source said. “He, however, assured our man that whatever decision he makes would be in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians” .

The dispute has deepened divisions within the opposition coalition that recently rallied around the ADC as a possible platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 . Political observers note that Amaechi, a former director-general of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns, is considered one of the influential political figures whose support could shape the emerging opposition coalition . Some stakeholders in the party, who are loyal to Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen, have warned of the eminent implosion in the ADC, calling on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Sen. David Mark to address the grievances generated by the brazen manipulation in the primaries . They warned that if nothing is done, they will be left with no option than to work against the party in 2027 . For now, Amaechi has made two things clear: he was never offered the VP slot, and he will not accept what he calls a “concocted” primary result. Whether he will remain in the ADC or seek other political platforms remains an open question as the opposition coalition teeters on the brink of fragmentation.

‘I Didn’t Buy ADC Form to Be VP,’ Amaechi Dismisses Speculation

Appeal Court Sacks Pro-Wike’s Rivers APC Exco, Upholds Nullification of Congresses

PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA – The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has upheld a ruling of the Rivers State High Court that voided the All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses which produced Tony Okocha and members of the party’s executive committee in the state . Okocha and members of the dissolved executive are known allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , Nyesom Wike . The controversy dates back to December 20, 2024, when Justice Godswill Obomanu of the Rivers State High Court issued an ex parte order restraining the APC from conducting its ward, local government, and state congresses in the state pending the determination of a suit before the court . Despite the subsisting court order, the party proceeded with the congresses, which eventually produced Okocha and other members of the state executive committee . The Emeka Beke-led faction subsequently returned to court, arguing that the congresses were conducted in defiance of a valid court order, leading the High Court to nullify the congresses and all actions arising from them .

Dissatisfied with the decision, the Okocha-led executive approached the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/PH/523/2024 , contending that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and was therefore not competent to issue the restraining order . However, in a judgment delivered on Friday, May 29, 2026, Justice Elfreida Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, affirmed the earlier ruling of the lower court and sustained the nullification of the congresses . The appellate court rejected Okocha’s argument and struck out the appeal for want of competence, effectively preserving the High Court’s order nullifying the congresses.

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Confirming the judgment, counsel to the Emeka Beke-led APC faction, Emenike Ebete, explained the legal implications of the ruling. “Before those congresses were conducted, the court gave an ex parte order restraining them from conducting the congresses. They disobeyed the order and went ahead to conduct ward, local government, and state congresses. So we returned to court and prayed that those congresses be nullified because they were conducted in violation of a court order, and the court granted the relief. They appealed against the ex parte order, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction and that the suit should be struck out. If that had happened, every consequential order, including the nullification of the congresses, would have collapsed. But the Court of Appeal held that the appeal was incompetent and struck it out. That means the High Court order nullifying the congresses still stands,” Ebete said .

The development is expected to have far-reaching implications for the party in Rivers State. Reports indicate that actions, decisions, and representations made by the Okocha-led executive on behalf of the APC since December 20, 2024, may now be considered null, void, and of no effect . There are also concerns that candidates produced by the party for future elections in the state could face legal challenges and risk of disqualification arising from the judgment . It should be noted that this appeal relates specifically to the interlocutory ex parte order and not to the substantive judgment of Justice Sika Aprioku that also sacked Tony Okocha and his exco as the leadership of the APC in Rivers State .

Responding to the ruling, the APC leadership loyal to Okocha dismissed suggestions that the executive had lost its standing, insisting that the matter remains unresolved pending a substantive hearing . In a statement issued on Saturday, the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Chibike Ikenga, maintained that the appellate court only determined an interlocutory appeal and directed that the substantive case return to the trial court for full trial . “The Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State, is aware of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, dated Friday, May 29, 2026, in an interlocutory appeal and matter sent back to the Court of first instance for full trial in Appeal No. CA/PH/523/2024: APC & ANOR. V OKWU JOEBROWN NDIKE filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the jurisdiction of the High Court directing the parties to ‘maintain status quo’ and also challenging the competence of the suit before the Rivers State High Court. There is no threat to the status of the EXCO pending full trial. Our lawyers will study the full judgment and advise on the next step. We advise party faithful to remain calm and not panic by the deliberate misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the judgment by those who lack in-depth knowledge of what transpired in the Court,” Ikenga said . The party noted that it has applied for a certified true copy of the judgment and will determine the next line of action after reviewing the full text. The case is expected to return to the trial court for further proceedings as the legal battle over the leadership of the Rivers APC continues.

Appeal Court Sacks Pro-Wike’s Rivers APC Exco, Upholds Nullification of Congresses

Two Logos, One Party: NDC’s Identity Crisis Deepens Ahead of Elections

ABUJA, NIGERIA – A finding conducted by Tribune Online has revealed inconsistencies in the use of the official logo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) , with noticeable differences between the version displayed on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) platform and those currently in circulation across media and campaign spaces . The review indicates that while one version of the NDC logo is hosted on INEC’s official platform as the recognised party symbol, a different version continues to appear widely in public-facing materials, including media publications and campaign-related visuals .

The discrepancy raises questions about standardisation of party identity , particularly in an electoral environment where visual symbols play a central role in voter recognition and ballot identification. In electoral practice, party logos often serve as key identifiers for voters, especially for individuals with limited political literacy or those encountering party materials for the first time. Any variation in such symbols, therefore, introduces the possibility of confusion during elections . One of the notable descriptions referenced in the course of the findings captured the concern succinctly: “What’s on the INEC platform is different from what is generally in use. This is where confusion will set in, especially with people who have zero idea about the popular logo in the media,” an X user with the handle @AnazaHerbert wrote . The inconsistency suggests a gap between the officially registered party symbol and its public usage, pointing to the need for closer alignment between both versions to ensure uniform recognition. At present, both versions remain in circulation ahead of future electoral activities, with the disparity yet to be formally addressed .

The NDC, which officially received its certificate of registration from INEC in February 2026 , has had a tortuous journey to registration that dates back to 2017 . According to the party’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson , the NDC was among 171 political organisations that initially applied for registration . However, the process stalled when INEC, under its former chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, suspended the registration of new political parties . When INEC later lifted the embargo, the NDC revived its application and was listed alongside the other associations. However, the party received a letter from INEC stating that its application was declined because its proposed logo—a two-finger sign —was similar to that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) broom . Dickson described the decision as shocking and unjust, noting that the party even offered to change the logo but was denied the opportunity.

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The NDC subsequently approached the Federal High Court to challenge INEC’s decision. According to the party’s National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, the court not only upheld that the NDC logo was distinct from that of the APC but also noted that the second association INEC had cited as having a similar logo was not even a registered entity . The court subsequently directed INEC to register the NDC and proclaimed the party registered . Dickson emphasized that INEC did not appeal the judgment and that the period for appeal has elapsed. “No one, except INEC, has the locus standi to appeal the judgement. The judgment has been enforced by INEC and there’s nothing to appeal anymore,” he stated .

However, the controversy surrounding the NDC has refused to die down. The promoter of the Alliance for Democratic Action (ADA) , Dr. Umar Ardo , has consistently opposed the registration of the NDC, alleging that the group failed to comply with due constitutional and electoral procedures . In a recent interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Ardo explained that before registering a political party, an association must write a letter of intent to INEC . He claimed that INEC rejected the NDC’s initial request on the grounds that its logo was similar to those of existing political parties. According to Ardo, instead of challenging the decision in court within 14 days as required by law, the NDC wrote back to INEC requesting reconsideration . Ardo further alleged that the NDC eventually went to court using only its initial letter of intent, arguing that this was insufficient to establish compliance with the Electoral Act. He stated that associations seeking registration must complete Form EC15 and upload required documents, including the party constitution, manifesto, list of national executives, and evidence of fee payment, on INEC’s portal. “NDC did not pay. NDC did not fill that form. NDC did not do anything. NDC just took one letter to court,” Ardo stated . He maintained that INEC ought to have resisted and appealed the court judgment that favoured the NDC.

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In response, Senator Dickson dismissed Ardo’s claims as “misguided and sponsored propaganda” . He provided a detailed timeline, explaining that the NDC’s registration process began in 2017, long before Ardo contemplated registering a political party. Dickson accused INEC of initially declining the party’s application because its proposed two-finger logo was allegedly similar to the APC’s broom, a claim he described as shocking . “We wrote to INEC to assert our right to sue the electoral umpire. The court enforced our rights to freedom of association, deemed us registered, and directed INEC to register us,” Dickson said . He emphasized that INEC did not appeal the judgment and that the period for appeal has elapsed, arguing that no individual or group has the legal standing to challenge the party’s registration . Dickson also noted that the NDC is not the only party registered through a court order, citing the example of the NDP, which was registered under similar circumstances .

Upon receiving its certificate of registration, the NDC gave the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC, which observed the party’s first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, confirming its officers and setting dates for congresses and primaries . The party continues to gain momentum, with Dickson noting that Nigerians from across the country and in the diaspora are registering massively . However, with two versions of the party’s logo now in circulation and the disparity yet to be formally addressed by INEC or the party leadership, questions remain about the potential for voter confusion as the country prepares for future electoral activities.

Two Logos, One Party: NDC’s Identity Crisis Deepens Ahead of Elections

Tribune