A faction within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has rejected the conduct of the party’s presidential primary election in Adamawa State, describing the exercise as a sham allegedly characterised by fabricated figures and lack of genuine voting.
The group, operating under the name Group of Concerned ADC Members, made its position known during a press briefing held in Yola on Tuesday.
The group accused some party leaders and supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of undermining democratic principles through what it described as a fraudulent process.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Hussain Hamman, a prominent ADC member from Yola South Local Government Area, claimed that voting did not take place in most parts of the state except in Ajiya Ward of Yola North Local Government Area, where Atiku reportedly cast his vote.
“Election results cannot be produced in a vacuum,” Hamman declared.
He further alleged that the crowd seen in Ajiya Ward was allegedly mobilised to create the impression that a credible election had taken place.
“From all available evidence and reports gathered across Adamawa State, there was virtually no voting exercise anywhere except in Ajiya Ward, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar allegedly mobilised hundreds of supporters to create the impression that an election took place,” he said.
Hamman argued that democracy must be built on transparency, participation and the free expression of the people’s will, insisting that the process in Adamawa failed to meet those standards.
He also noted what he described as irony in the situation, recalling Atiku’s previous criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, over allegations of manipulated figures during the APC presidential primary.
“While Atiku Abubakar himself strongly condemned the APC leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over allegations of inflated and manipulated figures in the APC presidential primary, it must be stated that the APC at least conducted a semblance of an election process.
“What happened under Atiku’s watch in Adamawa is even worse because no election took place in reality, yet imaginary results are being circulated to the public,” Hamman stated.
Despite the grievances, the group appealed to aggrieved party members to remain peaceful while continuing to demand credible democratic practices within the ADC.
