By David AFOLABI
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election, alleging systematic exclusion during the exercise.
Amaechi’s rejection of the process came shortly after fellow aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also withdrew from the exercise over alleged irregularities.
In a post on his X handle ahead of the official announcement of the results, Amaechi said the process failed to meet the standards of transparency and fairness earlier promised by the party.
“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 participated in the primary at his ward in Rivers State on Monday. X/@ChibuikeAmaechi
Amaechi, one of the three contenders for the ADC presidential ticket alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, maintained that he would only accept the outcome of a process that 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. 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.
“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 said.
Amaechi’s rejection of the process came hours after fellow aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also withdrew from the exercise over alleged irregularities.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen expressed concern over reports of widespread electoral malpractice across the country, noting that he personally witnessed some of the incidents.
“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,” the statement read.
The ADC presidential primary collation exercise is taking place in Abuja, with results expected from across the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” Abdullahi stated.
