…Counting continues today
…Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen reject primary election results
…As court clears Jonathan to contest
By MBACHU GODWIN, Abuja
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and ADC presidential aspirant is coasting to victory with a wide margin in the ongoing presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as results released so far from over 20 states showed him maintaining a comfortable lead over his opponents before counting of results was postponed till today for continuation of the exercise.
Atiku is contesting the party’s presidential ticket alongside former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and an Economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen ahead of the 2027 general election, where the ADC hopes to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu.
Results announced so far from four states at the party’s collation center, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, indicate a strong showing for Atiku.
In Kebbi State, Atiku polled 65,523 votes to defeat Amaechi, who scored 5,931 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 454 votes.
In Anambra State, Atiku garnered 58,566 votes ahead of Amaechi’s 17,085 votes and Hayatu-Deen’s 7,861 votes.
Abia State also went in favour of Atiku, who secured 25,153 votes, while Amaechi scored 18,339 votes and Hayatu-Deen got 2,264 votes.
In Ekiti State, Atiku polled 18,395 votes, defeating Amaechi, who recorded 1,574 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 149 votes.
Meanwhile, Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has rejected the party’s presidential primary result , describing the outcome of the exercise as concorted.
Amaechi in his X handle alleged wide spread disenfranchisement of voters on some parts of the country.
He said “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.
“I had initially stated that I will 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.
“There’s no way that about eighty percent 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? 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.
“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 leads to the disenfranchisement of voters who are party members. This is not acceptable.”
Besides, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, says he will not attend the announcement of the presidential primary results, citing alleged infractions.
Hayatu-Deen, in a statement obtained from his X handle yesterday in Abuja, expressed concern over reports of widespread vote rigging during the exercise.
He stated that some of the alleged irregularities were personally observed by him during voting.
The presidential aspirant said he would seek advice on his next line of action following the reported irregularities surrounding the conduct of the ADC presidential primary election.
“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 seeking advice on my next steps”, he said.
The ADC conducted its presidential primary election on Monday across the country to elect the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The results of the presidential primary election are still being collated by the party’s presidential election committee at Transcop Hilton, Abuja.
The aspirants include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and economist and former banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
In another development, a Federal High Court in Abuja, has declared that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest in the 2027 general elections and awarded a cost of N20 million against the plaintiff in favour of Jonathan and N1 million in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Peter Lifu made the declaration yesterday while delivering judgment in a suit seeking to bar Jonathan from participating in future presidential election, because he had taken the oath of office twice as president.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu dismissed the suit on the grounds of being an abuse of court process.
Therefore, the suit was a waste of the court’s precious time because both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have already resolved the eligibility of Jonathan, the judge said.
According to him, “I am bound by the above decision of the Court of Appeal and this court, I have no more to add”.
