African Democratic Congress Urges Candidates to Resolve Grievances Internally
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on presidential aspirants Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transport Minister, and economist Mohamed Hayatudeen to seek resolutions for any grievances through appropriate party channels and established electoral frameworks instead of resorting to public disputes.
Claims of Electoral Fraud in Presidential Primary Contest
Bola Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, stated that there is currently no substantive evidence to support allegations suggesting that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated in favor of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His comments were made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Continued Results Compilation from Nationwide Primaries
On Monday, the ADC conducted a nationwide direct primary election to select its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. Although the party has yet to officially announce the final results across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, preliminary data indicates that Atiku leads the pack, followed by Rotimi Amaechi and Abubakar Atiku Hayatudeen in third place.
Aspirants Reject Preliminary Results
Amaechi and Hayatudeen have both rejected the preliminary findings, alleging instances of fraud and manipulation favoring Atiku. However, Abdullahi counters that no conclusive evidence has emerged to validate or dismiss these claims as the verification process is still underway.
Party Procedures for Addressing Complaints
Addressing the allegations raised by the candidates, Abdullahi emphasized that while the current evidence does not support these claims, established protocols exist within both the party and electoral system for addressing complaints regarding alleged misconduct. He noted that the results are still being compiled and that a final assessment will soon become clearer.
Collation Process and Expected Outcomes
The ADC’s reconciliation process is set to commence around 7 PM and may extend several hours. Key party leaders and senior officials are present to oversee this crucial phase, with results from 11 states already in hand while awaiting updates from the remaining regions.
Response to Rival Faction and Electoral Commission Oversight
In light of a competing ADC faction led by Kingsley Oggah, which named Dumebi Kachiku as its presidential candidate, Abdullahi affirmed that the faction under David Mark remains unfazed. He expressed confidence in the legitimacy of the National Working Committee recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that claims from rival factions do not inherently confer legitimacy.
INEC’s Role in Monitoring Electoral Processes
Abdullahi confirmed that INEC officials are expected to be present at the Collation Center tonight, as they have consistently monitored all parliamentary and primary elections across the states. Every step of the electoral process has been duly documented by the commission, reflecting a comprehensive oversight of the primaries leading up to the presidential elections.
