As is typical in elections, there is dancing and rejoicing among winners, while losers face sorrow and disappointment. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi alleged that Atiku Abubakar secured the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket through irregularities, citing widespread voter disenfranchisement. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen echoed similar sentiments, questioning the fairness of the process.
Amaechi’s supporters dismissed the primary as a sham after Atiku won by a wide margin in Imo State, where Atiku secured 52,000 votes against Amaechi’s 7,659 and Hayatu-Deen’s 1,121. ADC returning officers described the exercise as orderly, peaceful, and transparent. Despite this, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen boycotted the announcement of results.
Amaechi’s support group, Movement for Amaechi’s Presidency, alleged that the process was a secret selection in connivance with Atiku’s agents, moved to secret locations without other contestants’ knowledge, violating electoral laws. They claimed primaries were not held in many wards across Imo State.
Amaechi stated, “Following reports of widespread voter disenfranchisement in most parts of the country during the ADC presidential primaries, I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced. There is 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 criticized vote buying, result manipulation, and vote suppression in the ADC primaries.
Hayatu-Deen tweeted his boycott due to reports of widespread rigging. In Imo State, results from 305 wards were collated at the ADC state secretariat. The party’s national presidential primaries electoral panel leader, Eko Atu, hailed the exercise as well-coordinated, transparent, and peaceful, praising state party leadership.
Atiku achieved decisive victories in Kano, Lagos, Sokoto, and Kebbi. In Lagos, he scored 37,779 votes against Amaechi’s 6,791 and Hayatu-Deen’s 2,261. In Kebbi, Atiku had 65,153 votes; Amaechi got 5,931; Hayatu-Deen got 454. In Kano, Atiku polled 155,995 votes, Amaechi 15,914, and Hayatu-Deen 9,994. Final collation across 36 states and Abuja at Transcorp Hilton Hotel saw Atiku win with 1,846,370 votes, Amaechi 504,117, and Hayatu-Deen 177,120.
Amaechi later praised ADC for holding nationwide primaries, calling it true democracy. However, cries of irregularities and disenfranchisement also emerged from All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries. Many legislators who lost their tickets are defecting to other parties. The Cable reported three House of Representatives members defecting from APC to PRP and ADC.
In NDC, complaints arose in Lagos over manipulation of primary results. APC faces widespread crises, with major figures defecting. At least 26 House members lost their tickets, with complaints of candidate imposition. Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege lost the APC ticket and defected to NDC. Former Minister Isa Ali Pantami, after losing the APC gubernatorial ticket in Gombe, defected to PDP.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda acknowledged that conflicts are inevitable in competitive politics. However, a governorship candidate in Benue, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, complained of inability to access the appeal committee, questioning the credibility of the dispute resolution process.
The recurring issues of fraud, manipulation, and imposition in every electoral cycle highlight low standards focused on power and money rather than character and service. INEC faces herculean tasks. The need for reflection on the purpose of human existence is urgent in these dark times.
