Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says the party remains the only political platform in Nigeria not controlled by a single individual.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Abdullahi said the ADC presidential primary has been highly competitive across the country.
According to him, party members turned out in large numbers to participate in the exercise.
“Across thousands of wards in the country, members have trooped out to vote in one of the most competitive internal elections that I have experienced in my life,” he said.
Abdullahi said the contest was too close to predict in many states.
“Even as I speak to you, I cannot tell you who will win in my state, Kwara State,” he said.
“It is that competitive.”
The ADC spokesperson said the party has distinguished itself by allowing open internal competition among aspirants.
“ADC is sticking to this principle of competition, internal competition,” he said.
“We are able to showcase ourselves as the only political party in this country today that is not beholden to an individual.”
Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar and Mohammed Hayatuddeen are jostling for the ADC’s ticket.
ADC COULDN’T REACH CONSENSUS
Abdullahi also confirmed that the party explored consensus talks before opting for direct primaries.
“I will not use the word collapse because it has its own dynamics,” he said.
He explained that legal issues affecting the party made it difficult to hold a convention to ratify a consensus arrangement.
“The only option left for us was to go ahead with these direct primaries,” he said.
The former minister said efforts continued until the last minute to reach an agreement among the leading aspirants.
“But when you have three top-class candidates, each one in their own rights eminently qualified and capable, deciding who should step down for the other became a challenge,” he said.
According to Abdullahi, the ADC believes any of the leading aspirants would perform better than Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
