* As crisis rocks Rivers ADC
By Teddy Nwanunobi (Abuja) and Clarice Azuatalam (Port Harcourt)
Former, Alhaji Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has passionately pleaded with former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and former bank Chief Executive, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu -deen, who were the two other contenders for the coveted presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to support him win the forthcoming 2026 presidential election
Daily NewsCraft gathered that this was the outcome of his visit to the residence of Amaechi on Thursday, following the announcement of the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress.
Atiku was accompanied by former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, and other party leaders.
The visit came amid ongoing reactions to the just-concluded ADC presidential primary election, where Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The party announced the result on Wednesday night at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, with Atiku defeating Amaechi and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the contest.
According to the official figures released by the party, Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi secured 504,117 votes and Hayatu-Deen received 177,120 votes.
The party leadership, led by former Senate President David Mark, subsequently presented the ADC flag to Atiku after his victory was declared.
The ADC had adopted the direct primary method after the three aspirants declined calls for a consensus arrangement ahead of the exercise.
Speaking after the announcement of the results, Atiku appealed to aggrieved members and aspirants to unite behind the party.
“I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us,” he said.
The former vice president also directly appealed to Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to work with him ahead of the general election.
“In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” Atiku stated.
He stressed that the outcome of the primary should not divide the party.
“As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership, and I am ready to lead,” he added.
Atiku further pledged to work with all stakeholders to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I shall work with you all to continue to build our party. I will campaign with you and, if Nigeria’s leaders demand it, govern with you to build a country that works for all of us,” he said.
However, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen reportedly rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging irregularities in the voting process. Hayatu-Deen also said he would not attend the announcement of the results. Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with some ADC chieftains, during the visit to former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi
Daily NewsCraft gathered that Amaechi did not give Atiku a firm response. Rather, he promised to consult his constituents before responding. It was further gathered that Atiku is planning to pay a similar visit to Hayatu- Deen after the Sallah break.
After the primary, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen refused to take part in the collation and announcement of the results of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election yesterday over alleged irregularities.
Amaechi, who described the results announced as “concocted” and inconsistent with democratic principles, made his position known in a statement posted on his X platform on Wednesday, following the conclusion of the ADC presidential primary across the country.
He alleged that the exercise was marred by widespread voter disenfranchisement, claiming that a large percentage of party members were denied the opportunity to participate in the process.
“I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced. I had initially stated that I will only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair, and transparent, and I stand by my word,” he said.
In his reaction, Hayatu-Deen, in a statement, said reports of widespread vote rigging from different parts of the country had raised serious doubts about the credibility of the process.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” he stated.
But the ADC has cleared the air on the rigging allegation of one of Hayatu-Deen, saying that they do not have any evidence to support or deny the allegation.
“We don’t have any evidence to be able to support his position or to deny his position because we’ve not collated the results. We’ve not noticed any pattern in the result, and we’ve not seen enough to be able to establish a pattern.
“Eleven states’ results have been received so far. We are still awaiting other results. Any moment from now we are going to start the collation,” the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.
Meanwhile, a serious rancour has erupted in Rivers State Chapter of Advance Democratic Congress (ADC) following governorship primary that took place on May 22, 2026.
The crisis deepened when one of the aspirants, Allen Ezekiel-Hart who lost in the primary alleged that the exercise was manipulated to favour preferred interests within the opposition bloc in the party.
The primary produced Dr Gabriel Pidomson, a former Secretary to the Government of Rivers State under the short-lived government of Celestine Omehia, who defeated Ezekiel- Hart, Sokonte Davies, a former House of Representatives member and Farah Dagogo, also a former House of Representatives member.
Ezekiel-Hart and Dagogo are laying claims to the party’s ticket through a rival factional process.
But in statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, the State Chairman of ADC, Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa dismissed the allegations of imposition and electoral manipulation, saying that primary complied fully with the party’s c constitution and guidelines.
Dimkpa also explained that all the aspirants were properly informed about the procedures leading to the primary and were given equal opportunity to participate in the exercise.
The emergence of Pidomsom as the ADC governorship candidate in the state, he said ” was a reflection of the collective decision and overwhelming support of delegates and stakeholders across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State. “
Dimkpa also rejected suggestions that the former Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi or any outside political interests influenced the outcome of the primary
Dimkpa’s intervention came after Ezekiel-Hart continued to challenge the legitimacy of the process. He also warned Dagogo against invoking the name of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in the internal battle over the party’s structure and ticket.
Ezekiel-Hart stated that “we will exhaust every legal channel within the party” adding that he would not ” rock the boat unnecessarily but the party must recognize that I won the primaries. “
However, the Rivers ADC Chairman urged party members and the public to ignore statements capable of inflating tensions within the party pointing out that the ADC in Rivers State remained focused on presenting itself as a credible alternative in the State.
In his words, : The ADC remains united and focused. Our priority now is to consolidate on the success of the primary process and continue working towards providing credible leadership and a better future for people of Rivers State.”
The clarification appeared to be aimed at calming growing uncertainty within the party after conflicting declarations by Pidomson and Dagogo triggered confusion over who truly holds the ADC governorship ticket in Rivers State.