A governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, Shuaibu Idris, has rejected the outcome of the party’s primary election, describing the exercise as flawed and alleging widespread irregularities.
Idris, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ADC, said he joined the party believing it would offer a credible alternative to Nigeria’s existing political system. However, he claimed the conduct of the primaries contradicted that expectation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, he accused the ADC primary election committee of running a process that lacked transparency, fairness, and basic democratic standards. According to him, concerns were raised by aspirants and stakeholders during preparatory meetings, but were largely ignored.
He explained that although participants had expressed reservations about the process, they still proceeded in good faith after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the election committee.
Idris further alleged that poor planning, insufficient funding, inadequate staffing, and logistical failures severely affected the credibility of the exercise. He also claimed that some of the committee’s responsibilities were handed to contestants’ support staff without proper training, making the process vulnerable to manipulation.
He described the arrangement as one “open to interference, manipulation, and malpractice,” insisting that it was impossible for a legitimate outcome to emerge under such conditions.
The aspirant also alleged that election materials were disrupted in some areas, while claims of intimidation and the presence of armed thugs were reported in parts of the state. He further accused some actors of openly inducing voters financially.
Idris maintained that he has both video and documentary evidence to support his claims, adding that elections were not conducted in several locations across Kaduna State.
The rejection adds to growing tension within the ADC following its governorship primary, which has already produced a winner amid disputes from other contestants.