The presidential primary election of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), held on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, has taken a tense turn as two leading aspirants, Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, rejected the ongoing results even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar maintained a strong lead in early collation across several states.
Preliminary results announced from 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) show Atiku Abubakar ahead in most of the areas already declared.
In Kebbi State, Atiku reportedly polled 65,523 votes, while Rotimi Amaechi secured 5,931 votes and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen got 454 votes. In Anambra State, Atiku recorded 58,566 votes, Amaechi 17,085, and Hayatu-Deen 7,861.
In Abia State, Atiku scored 25,153 votes, Amaechi 18,339, and Hayatu-Deen 2,264. Ekiti State returned 18,395 votes for Atiku, 1,574 for Amaechi, and 149 for Hayatu-Deen, while Ondo State showed Atiku with 18,287 votes, Amaechi 6,031, and Hayatu-Deen 875.
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In Gombe State, Atiku recorded a landslide 136,933 votes compared to Amaechi’s 1,140 and Hayatu-Deen’s 455. In the Federal Capital Territory, Atiku polled 18,704 votes, Amaechi 14,721, and Hayatu-Deen 5,576.
Other states including Oyo, Imo, Yobe, and Nasarawa also reflected Atiku’s consistent lead as collation continues nationwide.
However, the process has been met with strong opposition from both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen, who faulted the credibility of the exercise.
Amaechi alleged widespread voter disenfranchisement, claiming that a large number of party members were unable to participate in the primaries. He insisted that he would not accept any result that did not reflect fairness and transparency.
Hayatu-Deen also distanced himself from the process, describing it as flawed and alleging irregularities and vote manipulation, while indicating he would boycott the official announcement of results.
Meanwhile, an associate of Atiku described the exercise as peaceful and credible, expressing confidence that the former vice president remains in a strong position to secure the party’s ticket.
The ADC remains under pressure as tensions rise over the legitimacy of the process following the primary election held on 26 May 2026.
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