The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary has descended into a full-blown legitimacy crisis as both former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and respected banker-turned-politician Mohammed Hayatu-Deen simultaneously rejected the primary results — even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar maintained a commanding lead in the ongoing collation exercise.
The twin rejections from two of the three major aspirants have fatally wounded the credibility of the primary process — transforming what was billed as a historic and transparent opposition exercise into a deeply contested and potentially litigious political battleground.
Amaechi, who earlier demonstrated genuine grassroots delegate support by defeating both Atiku and Hayatu-Deen in the Bayelsa State primary, formally rejected the overall results — alleging that the process was manipulated and that the outcome does not reflect the true will of ADC delegates across the country.
Hayatu-Deen, who had earlier boycotted the result announcement ceremony citing personally observed irregularities and widespread vote rigging, maintained his position — refusing to accept the legitimacy of a primary he described as deeply compromised from the outset.
Both men’s simultaneous rejection of the results places Atiku in an extremely uncomfortable and politically precarious position — potentially becoming the ADC’s declared presidential candidate over the loud and credible objections of his two main rivals, raising immediate questions about the unity, legitimacy, and electoral viability of any ticket emerging from this deeply disputed process.
The ADC had earlier presented the primary exercise to the public and to INEC as a transparent, democratic, and credible process — claims that now lie in tatters following the coordinated revolt of two major aspirants.
Political analysts describe the situation as a nightmare scenario for the ADC — one that undermines the party’s carefully constructed image as a credible opposition alternative, emboldens the ruling APC, and raises serious doubts about whether the ADC can resolve its internal crisis in time to mount a coherent and united presidential campaign ahead of 2027.
“If the opposition cannot govern its own primary, how can Nigerians trust it to govern the nation?” a senior political commentator asked pointedly.
Civil society organisations and pro-democracy groups are calling on the ADC National Working Committee to immediately suspend the declaration of results, constitute an independent panel to investigate all allegations, and publish detailed state-by-state delegate figures for independent verification — stressing that legitimacy cannot be manufactured but must be earned through transparency.
INEC is also expected to scrutinise the ADC primary process carefully before recognising any candidate as the party’s valid presidential flagbearer for 2027.
The ADC leadership is yet to formally address the twin rejections at the time of filing this report.
CDA News Nigeria will bring you live updates as this rapidly escalating political crisis continues to develop.
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