2027: ADC Criticizes APC Over Primary Figures, Says They Won’t Rise From 3 to 30

By Luminous Jannamike

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has begun its presidential primary election with a pointed critique of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The ADC declared that, unlike the APC, it would not “jump from 3 to 30 or from 500 to 1000” while counting votes ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party’s launch of a nationwide primary is presented as a rare example of competitive internal democracy, at a time when many Nigerians feel presidential candidates are increasingly produced through backroom deals rather than open contests.

Chief Ikechi Emenike, Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primaries Election Committee, spoke in Abuja on Monday as voting began across the country. He was joined by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo.

The primary will feature former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor and ex‑Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu‑Deen, former Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group.

Emenike stated: “At a time when democratic values are increasingly being degraded within the nation’s political landscape, the ADC proudly stands out as the only political party in Nigeria presently demonstrating a genuine commitment to transparent, inclusive and democratic principles in the selection of its presidential candidate.”

He added: “Our aspirants are genuine presidential contenders, not some shadowy candidate contrived to confer legitimacy on a process where one man contested against himself. And as you would have seen, we know how to count properly and arithmetically. We are ADC. We will not inflate our registration numbers to deceive Nigerians. And when counting votes, we will not jump from 3 to 30 or from 500 to 1000.”

Emenike urged party members to ensure that only genuine figures were recorded during the exercise.

Abdullahi, the party spokesman, emphasized that the ADC remains the only party conducting a genuinely competitive presidential primary. He said: “We are very proud that we are the only party conducting a real primary election in this country today. Even as we speak, none of the three aspirants can confidently tell you that he will fly the ticket of the African Democratic Congress. We are proud that we are giving Nigerians a truly competitive internal democratic process.”

ADC dismisses Kachikwu’s emergence as presidential candidate

Abdullahi also dismissed a rival faction that reportedly held separate congresses and announced Dumebi Kachikwu as the party’s presidential candidate. He said: “If you go through the process with the Independent National Electoral Commission, leadership of the African Democratic Congress is not a matter for speculation. There are laid‑down procedures within the organisation. There are specific processes you must go through and requirements you must meet.”

He continued: “You need to submit a membership register. You need to provide details of your state officers. If you are conducting congresses, you must notify INEC and provide details across the states so the commission can monitor the process. They are expected to witness the congresses, monitor the results and supervise the entire exercise. All these processes have already started. So, for this issue to suddenly surface in Abuja on Sunday, we are left wondering what exactly is going on. This matter went up to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. It affirmed that there is only one leadership under former Senate President David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.”

Regarding membership strength, Abdullahi said the ADC had 3,444,000 registered members based on records submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “We are building a political party that is based on certain principles, one of which is transparency. So the number I have given you can be verified with INEC, and you will find it exactly as stated,” he said.

Abdullahi returned to his criticism of the APC, accusing it of inflating membership figures ahead of the 2027 election. He said: “What the APC is doing is amusing and laughable. They are simply setting the stage for the rigging of the 2027 election. By claiming that they have 20 million or 30 million members, they are trying to plant in people’s minds the idea that at least 11 million votes are already guaranteed. It is all lies.”

Idigo, the National Organising Secretary, said the ADC had implemented a meticulous process to ensure credible primaries across all elective positions. “The process we have put in place is aimed at ensuring that the best candidates emerge,” he said.

He added that the commission had been formally notified and was monitoring the presidential primary nationwide. “We gave INEC the required notices and ensured that it attended all our primaries, from the state assembly to the governorship primaries. And reports reaching us today indicate that the presidential primaries are also being supervised by INEC across the federation.”

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