The National Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress(ADC), has called for an independent investigation into alleged irregularities that marred the party’s primary elections in over 23 states.
The National Youth Leader of the party, Comrade Balarabe Rufai, made the demand during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
He alleged that the youth wing had received petitions, supported by documentary evidence, claiming that some party officials manipulated candidate nominations after allegedly accepting improper financial inducements.
Rufai said the allegations, if established through an independent investigation, would amount to a serious breach of the party’s constitution and democratic principles.
He said, “We have received petitions supported by documentary evidence alleging that some party officials accepted improper financial inducements to alter candidate nominations across over twenty-three states.
“It is on record that formal petitions were already submitted directly to the Legal Department by the party-constituted Appeal Committee as well as aggrieved party aspirants, yet regrettably, nothing was done to address these clear breaches.”
According to him, several affected aspirants have either resigned from the party or approached the courts after losing confidence in the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism.
He added that many others were still waiting for justice.
“Every unresolved complaint weakens confidence in our internal processes and places unnecessary strain on the unity we need ahead of the general election,” Rufai said.
He warned that the development could undermine the ADC’s position as a major opposition platform if urgent steps were not taken.
The youth leader urged the National Working Committee to immediately constitute an independent panel to investigate all petitions and ensure that every complaint was fairly addressed.
“Any official found, after a fair and independent investigation, to have manipulated the nomination process or accepted improper inducements must face the full disciplinary measures provided under the party’s constitution,” he stated.
He added that cases involving alleged criminal conduct should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Rufai also directed aggrieved aspirants across the 36 states to submit their petitions, delegate tallies, video evidence and other relevant documents to the Office of the National Youth Leader for compilation and onward transmission to the appropriate organs of the party.
He maintained that the intervention was aimed at protecting the integrity of the ADC rather than pursuing personal or political interests.
“This is not about protecting individuals or settling political scores. It is about protecting the integrity of our party. Every honest official should welcome an independent review because transparency strengthens institutions, while silence only fuels suspicion,” he said.
Rufai reaffirmed the youth wing’s support for the party’s presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as all validly nominated candidates across the country.
He, however, insisted that the current leadership must restore confidence in the party by addressing the allegations.
“It is high time that if the current leadership of the party cannot bring the perpetrators of these gross injustices to book, then they must resign and make way for those ready to restore integrity to our party,” he added.
He said the ADC Youth Wing’s legal advisers, led by Barrister I.U. Wali and Barrister Juliet Laba, had been mandated to work with aggrieved aspirants until their grievances were resolved through the party’s internal processes.
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