ADC group rejects Adamawa presidential primary, calling it a “charade”

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the party’s presidential primary in Adamawa State as a “charade,” claiming that fabricated figures were used to mislead voters.

The Group of Concerned ADC Members held a briefing in Yola on Tuesday, accusing party leaders and supporters of former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar of undermining democratic principles through a fraudulent process.

Hussain Hamman, the group’s spokesperson and a senior ADC figure from Yola South Local Government Area, said that voting in the state was virtually nonexistent, except in Ajiya Ward of Yola North LGA where Atiku reportedly cast a vote.

“Election results cannot be produced in a vacuum,” he asserted. “Even in Ajiya Ward, the crowd presented to the public was mobilised to create the impression that a credible exercise had taken place.”

Hamman added that, according to the evidence and reports he had gathered across Adamawa, there was no genuine voting exercise anywhere else in the state. He alleged that Atiku had mobilised hundreds of supporters in Ajiya Ward to give the appearance of an election.

He warned that democracy had been abused and stressed that it must be grounded in transparency, participation, and the free expression of the people’s will.

Hamman pointed out the irony of Atiku—who has criticised President Bola Tinubu for claiming fictitious votes to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket—being involved in what he described as the ADC’s own questionable primary.

“While Atiku Abubakar himself strongly condemned the APC leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over allegations of inflated and manipulated figures in the APC presidential primary, it must be stated that the APC at least conducted a semblance of an election process,” Hamman said. “What happened under Atiku’s watch in Adamawa is even worse because no election took place in reality, yet imaginary results are being circulated to the public.”

He urged aggrieved members to remain peaceful while insisting on credible democratic practices.