The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm that President Bola Tinubu‘s claim of garnering 10.99 million votes during the just-concluded presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a direct plot to rig the 2027 general elections and must be resisted.

It promised to demonstrate a genuine commitment to transparent, inclusive and democratic principles in the selection of its presidential candidate.

Similarly, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims that Tinubu secured 10 million votes during the APC primaries, describing the figures as “fabricated numbers” with no political significance to the ADC.

ADC also condemned Tinubu’s recent attack on the opposition as self-serving and deeply insensitive.

While delivering his acceptance speech as the APC presidential candidate in next year’s election, Tinubu declared that opposition leaders would only take the country backwards because they lacked an alternative vision.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC asserted that it was a grand irony that such a statement was coming from a President whose tenure would be remembered as one of the worst periods in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The ADC also raised concerns over the APC presidential primary results, which allegedly gave Tinubu 10.99 million votes, describing the figure as an “unbelievable concoction” and warning that it could provide the basis for rigging the 2027 general elections.

HOWEVER, while briefing journalists at the party’s collation centre in Abuja, yesterday, Chairman of the Presidential Primaries Election Committee of ADC, Ikechi Emenike, said that although democratic values are increasingly being degraded within the nation’s political landscape, the ADC will set the standard for real democracy and integrity of the ballot.

The party emphasised: “Unlike the culture of imposition, consensus manipulation and predetermined outcomes that have become prevalent in contemporary political parties, the ADC has embraced a credible democratic process that gives every qualified aspirant equal opportunity to present their vision and earn the support of party members across the country.

“What differentiates ADC from other parties in Nigeria is that it is the only party blessed with three eminently qualified aspirants who are capable of piloting the affairs of this country at this most difficult time: Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-deen.”

ATIKU, after casting his vote during the ADC presidential primaries at Hajiya Ward in Jimeta, Yola, maintained that the ADC remained focused, confident and fully prepared to challenge for national leadership, insisting that the figures announced by the APC do not reflect the true political reality in the country.

According to him, the reported 10 million votes are “mere numbers” that pose no threat to the ADC’s growing political strength and grassroots mobilisation.

The former VP further stated that the party was concentrating on building a formidable platform capable of securing victory at the polls, while dismissing concerns over internal disagreements within the opposition party.

He noted political disputes as common in democratic organisations and would not undermine the unity or determination of the ADC.