Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, scored 6,050 votes to defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Muhammad Hayatuddeen in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary held in Ebonyi State.

Declaring the result, the Coordinator of Electoral Matters and Returning Officer for the exercise, Bassey Edogi Imoke, said the election was conducted peacefully and in an organised manner across the wards in the state.

According to him, Amaechi polled 6,050 votes to emerge victorious, while Atiku secured 1,210 votes and Muhammad Hayatuddeen garnered 4,840 votes.

Imoke explained that the presidential primary was conducted through a direct primary system across the 171 political wards in Ebonyi State.

He disclosed that a total of 12,641 delegates were registered for the exercise, while 12,100 delegates were accredited and participated in the election.

“Total registered delegates in Ebonyi State were 12,641, while accredited delegates were 12,100. Total valid votes stood at 12,100,” he said.

“Atiku Abubakar scored 1,210 votes, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi scored 6,050 votes, while Muhammad Hayatuddeen scored 4,840 votes,” he added.

“At the end of the election, His Excellency Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, having scored the highest number of votes cast, is hereby returned elected as the preferred flag bearer of the African Democratic Congress in Ebonyi State for the 2027 general election,” he declared.

Earlier, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the ADC, Dr Mrs Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, said the exercise commenced peacefully across the state without any report of violence or irregularities.

She noted that the conduct of the direct primary across all wards marked a departure from the party’s previous system where delegates converged at a single venue for primaries.

“We have three presidential aspirants — Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Hayatuddeen Mohammed — and members are expected to decide the best among them through a secret ballot process.

“This is the first time the exercise is being conducted across all ADC states simultaneously, and I believe the essence is to ensure peace and inclusiveness,” she said.

Reacting to the outcome of the exercise, Adibe-Nwafor congratulated Amaechi on his victory and commended party members for their peaceful conduct throughout the process.

“I want to appreciate members of the ADC in Ebonyi State for the way and manner they conducted themselves and also congratulate His Excellency Rotimi Amaechi for winning convincingly.

“No delegate was forced to vote for any aspirant. The election was free, fair and credible, while all aspirants were given a level playing ground,” she stated.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Paschal Okafor, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and credible.

“It was fair, free and credible. Every aspirant was given a fair opportunity, and I congratulate ADC members for the peaceful atmosphere that characterised the election,” Okafor said.