Amaechi Rejects ADC Presidential Primary Results, Alleges Massive Irregularities
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the outcome of the presidential primaries conducted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the exercise as lacking credibility and transparency.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, Amaechi alleged that the primary election was marred by widespread voter disenfranchisement, manipulation of results, and other irregularities.
“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,” he stated.
Amaechi said he had earlier made it clear that he would only accept the outcome of the primary if the process was free, fair, and transparent.
“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,” he added.
The former Rivers governor accused the ADC leadership of abandoning the principles upon which the party was founded, noting that the platform was meant to provide Nigerians with a credible political alternative built on fairness, accountability, and inclusion.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold, to rescue Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement that our country is currently facing in the hands of the ruling party,” he said.
According to Amaechi, a large number of party members across the country were prevented from participating in the voting exercise.
“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 queried.
He stressed that the ADC was envisioned as a political platform that would give ordinary Nigerians a voice, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or social status.
“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 said.
Amaechi also accused the party of engaging in the same electoral practices it had previously criticised in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“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 that lead to the disenfranchisement of voters who are party members. This is not acceptable,” he added.
Although the ADC leadership has yet to officially announce the final results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, early figures reportedly showed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar leading the race, while Amaechi trailed behind and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen placed third.
