ADC challenges APC to produce proof of 10.9 million votes claim

By Jude Opara

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to publish its membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the claims of the party’s reported 10.9 million votes in its presidential primary was false, and a possible prelude to rigging of the 2027 election.

Speaking at a press conference to herald the beginning of the collation of results from the ADC presidential primary election across the country, National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that the ADC is the only political party currently conducting a genuinely competitive presidential primary election.

“The African Democratic Congress, we are very proud that we are the only party conducting a real primary election in this country today. Even as we speak, none of the three aspirants can tell you confidently that he will emerge as the party’s presidential candidate,” Abdullahi said.

The former Minister also said the party was committed to transparency and internal democracy, adding that the ongoing presidential primary with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in contention, demonstrates the party’s commitment to free and fair electoral process.

Abdulahi also dismissed the parallel congresses reportedly held by a faction of the party, insisting that the courts had already affirmed the legitimacy of the leadership under former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“If we start referring to a group of people who meet in a room to entertain themselves… the matter has gone to the Supreme Court, which affirmed that there is only one leadership,” he added.

Speaking on the membership strength of the party, Abdullahi revealed that the ADC has 3,444,000 registered members, based on records submitted to INEC after verification and clean-up exercises.

“We are building a political party based on transparency. The number I have given can be verified with INEC. We are not going to set up figures to deceive Nigerians,” he said.

Abdulahi who is also a former NPS of the APC equally accused his former party of inflating the membership figures to hoodwink the people ahead of the possible manipulation of the 2027 elections.

“What the APC is doing is amusing and laughable. By claiming to have 11 million or 20 million members, they are attempting to condition Nigerians to believe such votes are guaranteed. It is all lies,” he alleged.

He challenged the ruling party to release a verifiable membership register submitted to INEC if it truly possesses the numbers it claims.

Also speaking, the ADC National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, said the party had put in place meticulous processes aimed at ensuring credible candidate selection across all elective positions.

According to him, INEC was duly notified and had supervised the party’s primaries nationwide, including the ongoing presidential exercise.

“We gave INEC the required notices and ensured they attended all our primaries, from state assembly to governorship elections. Reports reaching us indicate that the presidential primaries are also being supervised by INEC across the federation,” Idigo stated.