Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has distanced himself from the party’s primary election results, alleging that the exercise was compromised by widespread manipulation and irregularities.
In a statement released on Tuesday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Hayatu-Deen announced his decision to boycott the official declaration of the winner. He cited “disturbing reports” of vote rigging across various regions of the country.
The contender further claimed that he personally witnessed some of the irregularities, which he said have fundamentally undermined the credibility of the process.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today,” Hayatu-Deen stated. “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.”
The rejection has heightened tensions within the party as the collation of results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory concludes in Abuja. The race has been a source of intense friction between Hayatu-Deen and other prominent contenders.
Prior to the commencement of the exercise on Monday, the ADC leadership had appealed to all aspirants and delegates to maintain decorum. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had described the primary as a “critical test” of the ADC’s commitment to transparency.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Abdullahi maintained that the ADC aimed to set a standard for democratic principles, stressing that the conduct of its members would reflect the leadership values the party intends to offer Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
