A fresh crisis may be brewing within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following allegations of irregularities in the party’s presidential primary election conducted on Monday, as one of the aspirants, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, publicly distanced himself from the outcome of the exercise.
In a statement issued via his X handle on Tuesday ahead of the official announcement of the presidential primary results, Hayatu-Deen said he would not attend the declaration ceremony, citing reports of widespread manipulation of the voting process across the country.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today,” he stated.
The presidential aspirant further alleged that the exercise was marred by electoral malpractice, claiming that he personally witnessed some of the irregularities reported by party members and observers.
“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,” Hayatu-Deen added.
The development has raised concerns over the possibility of internal divisions within the opposition party at a time political parties are intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The ADC had on Monday conducted its presidential primary election to elect its flag bearer for the next presidential contest, with delegates from across the federation participating in the exercise.
The primary was expected to strengthen the party’s position as one of the emerging opposition platforms seeking to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, Hayatu-Deen’s rejection of the process has cast a shadow over the credibility of the exercise and could trigger legal and political disputes within the party.
The ADC has in recent months witnessed increased political activity and growing interest from politicians seeking alternative platforms amid ongoing realignments in the nation’s political landscape.
As of the time of filing this report, the ADC leadership had yet to officially respond to Hayatu-Deen’s allegations or indicate whether the complaints would be investigated.
