Results from the ADC's presidential primary will start coming in on Tuesday. Party officials say they'll announce their 2027 candidate shortly after tabulating votes from Monday's nationwide exercise.
Three major contenders battled for the party's ticket yesterday. They are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Speaking at an Abuja press conference Monday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said none of the aspirants could claim certain victory yet. The final numbers will determine everything, he noted.
About 3.4 million members cast ballots in the primary election. Abdullahi confirmed this figure comes from the party's verified membership register.
He seized the opportunity to criticize the ruling APC for inflating its membership numbers. According to him, such claims are designed to manipulate public opinion before 2027.
"What the APC is doing is amusing and laughable," Abdullahi told reporters. He challenged them to produce verifiable registration documents if they truly had 20 million members.
Abdullahi emphasized that ADC's internal process demonstrates superior democratic practice. He contrasted it sharply with how other parties manage their affairs.
A splinter faction had conducted rival primary elections and announced its own candidate. Abdullahi dismissed this group as irrelevant and without standing.
The Supreme Court already settled the leadership question, he added. That ruling favored the faction controlled by former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Chief Ikechi Emenike chairs the presidential primaries committee. He promised the exercise would be transparent, free, and credible throughout.
"This process will strengthen internal democracy within our party," Emenike said. He called on all members to conduct themselves with responsibility and sportsmanship.
Nigeria deserves a strong democratic example, he told the gathering. ADC intends to provide that example to the nation, he emphasized.
Early results from two northern states showed Atiku in commanding position. Both Sokoto and Zamfara delivered substantial victories for the former vice president.
In Sokoto State, voting concluded peacefully across all 23 local government areas. Prof.
Aminu Abubakar, the state chief returning officer, announced results Monday evening.
Atiku captured 68,823 of the 69,434 total votes cast. His dominance was overwhelming in the state primary exercise.
Amaechi managed only 292 votes in Sokoto. Hayatu-Deen trailed further back with 319 votes in the state.
Zamfara State results confirmed a similar pattern for Atiku. He won decisively there as well, according to preliminary tallies.
