Rotimi Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, has rejected the results of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election, claiming that many voters were denied the right to vote on Monday.
Before the results were officially announced on Tuesday, Amaechi wrote on his X handle that the process did not live up to the standards of fairness and transparency that the party had previously pledged.
“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!”
“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.
Personally, I feel it is essential for ADC to foster unity and collaboration among its members rather than allowing conflicts to divide the party. Working hand in hand, they can identify and support a strong, capable candidate who is best suited for the position. Unity and teamwork will not only strengthen the party’s prospects but also demonstrate a shared commitment to the nation’s progress and the collective goal of achieving victory.
