ABUJA, Nigeria — Prominent economist and politician Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has boycotted the official announcement of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election results, citing widespread irregularities and structural manipulation across the country.
The development has thrown the opposition party’s presidential ticket process into severe crisis, threatening its internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Allegations of Grassroots Vote Rigging
Hayatu-Deen made his stance public on Tuesday afternoon, declaring that he would not honor the party’s official declaration ceremony following alarming reports from his field observers and personal encounters at voting centers.
“I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed,” Hayatu-Deen stated. He added that he is currently reviewing the situation and consulting legal and political advisors to determine his next line of action.
Severe Blow to Opposition Restructuring
The rejection by Hayatu-Deen marks a massive setback for the ADC. The party has spent the last few months positioning itself as the premier alternative platform for technocrats and experienced politicians looking to challenge the country’s dominant political parties.
As a highly respected former banking executive and seasoned economic strategist, Hayatu-Deen’s entry into the ADC race was considered a major credibility boost for the party. His public denunciation of the primary voting process directly undermines the party’s messaging of transparency, internal democracy, and reform.
Growing Internal Friction
The brewing crisis comes at a time when the ADC has been absorbing several high-profile defectors looking to secure tickets for the upcoming electoral cycle.
With one of its foremost presidential aspirants openly questioning the legitimacy of the national delegate votes, political observers warn that the party risks a wave of litigations and internal factions that could severely fracture its support base before the formal campaigns begin.
