Fresh controversy has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after supporters of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, rejected the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election in Imo State.
The camp described the exercise that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as winner as a “sham,” insisting that no genuine primary election took place across the state.
Speaking to journalists in Owerri on Tuesday, the Orlu Zonal Coordinator of the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Imo State Campaign Structure, Chigozie Alex, accused the party leadership of conducting a secret process without transparency.
According to him, many registered ADC members who came out to vote were unable to participate because there were allegedly no officials, voting materials, or designated polling units in several wards.
He also claimed that Amaechi’s accredited agents were deliberately denied access to the locations where the exercise was allegedly conducted.
“What we witnessed was not a direct primary. It was a secret selection,” Alex said.
He further alleged that some returning officers involved in the process were compromised by supporters of rival candidates, which he claimed violated the party’s constitution and principles of fair elections.
The Amaechi camp has now called on the national leadership of the ADC to cancel the Imo primary and organise a fresh and transparent exercise across all wards in the state.
They warned that anything short of that would amount to an attack on democracy and the rights of party members.
Despite the protests, the African Democratic Congress maintained that the primary election was valid and properly conducted.
Announcing the official results, the Chairman of the ADC National Presidential Primary Electoral Panel for Imo State, Eko Atu, declared Atiku Abubakar winner of the exercise.
According to the panel, Atiku recorded a massive victory across the 305 political wards and 27 local government areas in the state.
The results released by the party showed that Atiku polled 52,200 votes, while Rotimi Amaechi secured 7,659 votes to emerge second.
Businessman Mohammed Hayatudeen came third with 1,121 votes.
The latest disagreement has sparked fresh political reactions online as tensions continue to rise within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Source: Statements from the Amaechi campaign structure and ADC Electoral Panel in Imo State.
