ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of inflating figures and manipulating public perception ahead of the 2027 general election.
The opposition party said unlike the APC, it would not “jump from 3 to 30 or from 500 to 1000” while counting votes during its presidential primary election.
ADC leaders made the remarks in Abuja as the party commenced nationwide voting to elect its presidential candidate for the 2027 race.
The contest features former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primaries Election Committee, Chief Ikechi Emenike, said the party was determined to distinguish itself through transparency and genuine internal democracy.
“At a time when democratic values are increasingly being degraded within the nation’s political landscape, the ADC proudly stands out as the only political party in Nigeria presently demonstrating a genuine commitment to transparent, inclusive and democratic principles in the selection of its presidential candidate,” he said.
Emenike criticised what he described as stage-managed presidential contests in some political parties, insisting that ADC aspirants were engaged in a real contest.
“Our aspirants are genuine presidential contenders, not some shadowy candidate contrived to confer legitimacy on a process where one man contested against himself,” he stated.
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He further mocked alleged manipulation of figures in the political system.
“And as you would have seen, we know how to count properly and arithmetically. We are ADC. We will not inflate our registration numbers to deceive Nigerians. And when counting votes, we will not jump from 3 to 30 or from 500 to 1000,” he added.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also described the ADC as the only political platform currently conducting what he called a genuinely competitive presidential primary.
“We are very proud that we are the only party conducting a real primary election in this country today,” Abdullahi said.
“Even as we speak, none of the three aspirants can confidently tell you that he will fly the ticket of the African Democratic Congress. We are proud that we are giving Nigerians a truly competitive internal democratic process.”
Abdullahi also dismissed claims by a rival faction that reportedly produced Dumebi Kachikwu as the party’s presidential candidate through separate congresses.
According to him, the faction lacked legitimacy and did not follow procedures recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“If you go through the process with INEC, leadership of the African Democratic Congress is not a matter for speculation,” he said.
He explained that political parties were required to submit membership registers, details of state officers, and formal notices for congresses and primaries to enable INEC monitor the process.
“This matter went up to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. It affirmed that there is only one leadership under former Senate President David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola,” Abdullahi added.
On party membership strength, the ADC spokesman disclosed that the party currently had 3,444,000 registered members based on records submitted to INEC.
“We are building a political party that is based on certain principles, one of which is transparency. So the number I have given you can be verified with INEC, and you will find it exactly as stated,” he said.
Abdullahi, however, renewed his criticism of the APC, accusing the ruling party of inflating membership claims ahead of the next general election.
“What the APC is doing is amusing and laughable. They are simply setting the stage for the rigging of the 2027 election,” he alleged.
“By claiming that they have 20 million or 30 million members, they are trying to plant in people’s minds the idea that at least 11 million votes are already guaranteed. It is all lies.”
Also speaking, the ADC National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, said the party had established strict procedures to guarantee credible primaries across all elective positions.
“The process we have put in place is aimed at ensuring that the best candidates emerge,” he said.
Idigo added that INEC had been fully notified about the primaries and was monitoring the exercise nationwide.
“We gave INEC the required notices and ensured that it attended all our primaries, from the state assembly to the governorship primaries,” he stated.
“Reports reaching us today indicate that the presidential primaries are also being supervised by INEC across the federation.”