The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s claim of securing 10.99 million votes during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, describing the figure as politically unrealistic and dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.
According to a report by The Guardian Nigeria, the ADC alleged that the vote tally could lay the groundwork for manipulation ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the figure announced after the APC primary lacked credibility and did not reflect Nigeria’s present political climate. He also accused the ruling party of attempting to intimidate opposition voices ahead of the next election cycle.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now a leading figure within the ADC, also dismissed the APC primary results. He reportedly described the figures as “fabricated numbers” with no real political value to the opposition coalition.
The ADC further criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over comments made during his acceptance speech at the APC primaries, where he reportedly said opposition leaders lacked an alternative vision for Nigeria. The party argued that such remarks were insensitive given the country’s economic and political challenges.
The opposition party insisted it would conduct a transparent and democratic process in selecting its own presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The development comes amid wider political tensions over preparations for the 2027 polls, with several opposition leaders and parties already questioning the credibility of electoral processes and party membership claims.