Atiku Wins ADC Primary But Amaechi Says the Whole Thing Was Rigged

Atiku Wins ADC Primary But Amaechi Says the Whole Thing Was Rigged

The African Democratic Congress held its presidential primary this week. Atiku Abubakar won in a landslide. And before the collation in Abuja even finished, Rotimi Amaechi had already posted a statement calling the whole exercise a sham.

The Numbers Look Impossible

The state results that came in on May 26 were staggering in their one-sidedness.

Zamfara: Atiku 60,500, Amaechi 191. Gombe: Atiku 139,334, Amaechi 1,150. Kebbi: Atiku 65,523, Amaechi 5,931.

By Tuesday evening, Atiku had won 22 of the 24 states that declared. Amaechi won just two.

On paper, a decisive mandate. In reality, numbers that immediately raised eyebrows — even among people with no stake in the outcome.

Amaechi Walked Out

Amaechi did not attend the announcement. He released a statement that said what many were thinking.

"I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced. Eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote. A party that criticises the APC for vote buying and rigging cannot be engaged in the same practices."

Hayatu-Deen, the third candidate, also alleged massive rigging and accused party leaders of trying to impose a preferred candidate before collation was complete. In Imo State, Amaechi's support group boycotted the result announcement entirely, calling it a "secret selection."

Sahara Reporters cited party insiders saying Amaechi's lawyers were already evaluating grounds for a court challenge.

The Bigger Problem

Here is the part that stings.

The ADC was built on one idea: that Nigeria deserved an opposition that actually did things differently. It recruited Atiku, Peter Obi, and Kwankwaso with that pitch. Then Obi and Kwankwaso left for the NDC earlier this month. Now the primary that was supposed to steady the ship has produced rigging allegations from inside the party itself.

The ADC handed its critics the perfect argument: that it is just another Nigerian political party wearing different colours.

What Happens Next

ADC has urged Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to use "established party structures" for their grievances, which is Nigerian political language for: take it to court or take it to the party appeals body.

If Amaechi sues, the ADC heads into the 2027 election cycle fighting a legal battle at the same time it is trying to build national momentum against Tinubu. That is not where any opposition party wants to be.