A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kola Ologbondiyan, has advised party members alleging manipulation during the party’s primary election to take their complaints to the appeal committee set up by the party leadership.
Ologbondiyan made the statement on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television while reacting to concerns raised by some aspirants and party members over the outcome of the ADC presidential primary.
He stressed that allegations of irregularities must be supported with verifiable evidence, adding that the party already has internal mechanisms in place to address disputes and complaints arising from the primary process.
According to him, the ADC leadership is capable of managing disagreements within the party through established constitutional procedures. He noted that members who believe there were cases of result manipulation should formally present their evidence before the appeal committee for proper review.
“Allegations cannot just come without proof. The party has already constituted an appeal committee. Those who can prove the allegations of manipulation can go to the appeal committee,” Ologbondiyan said during the interview.
His comments come amid reactions following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the winner of the ADC presidential primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The primary election reportedly generated controversy after former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise. Both men reportedly rejected the outcome, claiming the process was unfair and affected by voting irregularities.
Despite the complaints, Atiku called for unity within the party shortly after he was declared winner of the contest. He urged members and aspirants to put aside their differences and work together to strengthen the ADC ahead of the next general elections.
The former vice president said political contests should not divide members of the party, insisting that there were no permanent winners or losers in the democratic process. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to build a stronger opposition platform capable of addressing national challenges.
Atiku also made direct appeals to Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen, asking them to join him in what he described as a broader mission to strengthen democracy and reposition the country politically.
“We have a sacred responsibility to build a party that will stand as a great institution not only in Nigeria but as a great example across the world,” Atiku said after the primary election.
He further appealed to aggrieved members to return to the party fold and close ranks with the leadership in order to move forward collectively.
“I appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us,” he stated.
Atiku added that his administration, if elected in the future, would be inclusive and open to collaboration with party stakeholders and former rivals alike.
“I appeal to all those who contested for various positions in our primaries to close ranks with us. In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohamed Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” he said.
The ADC presidential primary has attracted attention across Nigeria’s political space as parties begin positioning ahead of the 2027 elections. Political analysts note that internal party unity will likely play a major role in determining the strength and competitiveness of political parties in the coming years.
Observers say the ability of the ADC leadership to address grievances arising from the primary process may influence party cohesion and member confidence moving forward. The establishment of an appeal committee is seen as part of efforts to provide aggrieved aspirants with an official platform for dispute resolution.
Despite the controversy surrounding the primary, party leaders continue to express optimism that internal disagreements can be resolved through dialogue and constitutional procedures. Ologbondiyan reiterated that the party remains committed to fairness, transparency, and democratic principles in handling all complaints related to the exercise.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gradually intensify, attention is expected to remain on the ADC and how the party navigates internal disputes while attempting to build a united political front.
