Rotimi Amaechi has rejected the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and irregularities during the exercise.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Amaechi described the results announced by the party as “concocted” and said he could not accept an outcome that failed to reflect fairness and transparency.
“Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the African Democratic Congress Presidential Primaries yesterday, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” he said.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, said he had earlier stated that he would only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair, and transparent.
He insisted that the process fell short of those standards.
“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 minister accused the party leadership of betraying its founding ideals, saying the ADC was meant to provide an alternative political platform focused on fairness and inclusion.
He also alleged that a large percentage of party members were denied the opportunity to vote.
“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,” he said.
Amaechi further argued that the ADC had become guilty of the same electoral malpractice it had previously criticized 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,” he said.
The ADC held a nationwide direct primary on Monday to select its candidate for the 2027 presidential election, featuring key contenders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, and Amaechi himself.
Although official results are yet to be fully announced, early figures reportedly show Atiku leading the race, with Amaechi in second place and Hayatu-Deen in third.
The development highlights growing tensions within the ADC as the party attempts to position itself as a major opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections.
