A group of some members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the conduct of the party’s presidential primary election in Adamawa State, describing it as a charade in which fictitious figures were fabricated to mislead the public.
The Group of Concerned ADC Members, which addressed a news briefing in Yola on Tuesday, alleged that some party leaders and supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar undermined democratic principles through a fraudulent process.
Leader of the group, Hussain Hamman, a prominent party figure from Yola South Local Government Area, said there was hardly any voting in the state, except in Ajiya Ward of Yola North LGA, where Atiku voted.
“Election results cannot be produced in a vacuum,” he asserted.
He alleged that even in Ajiya Ward, the crowd presented to the public was mobilised to create the impression that a credible exercise had taken place.
“From all available evidence and reports gathered across Adamawa State, there was virtually no voting exercise anywhere except in Ajiya Ward, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar allegedly mobilised hundreds of supporters to create the impression that an election took place,” Hamman stated.
He contended that democracy had been abused, stressing that it must be anchored in transparency, participation, and the free expression of the people’s will.
He said it was ironic that Atiku, who had criticised President Bola Tinubu for claiming fictitious votes to secure the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would be involved in ADC’s own questionable primary.
Hamman said, “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.
“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.”
Hamman, however, urged aggrieved members to remain peaceful while insisting on credible democratic practices.
