Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has defeated former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Bayelsa State in the ongoing presidential primary election of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that results from the state showed that Amaechi polled 44,404 votes to defeat Atiku, who scored 6,570 votes.
Another aspirant in the race, Mohammed Hayatudeen, recorded 939 votes in the state.
The result placed Amaechi ahead in Bayelsa as the party continued to collate results from different states across the country.
However, Atiku recorded a strong performance in Imo State, where he defeated Amaechi by a wide margin.
According to the result from the state, Atiku secured 52,200 votes, while Amaechi polled 7,659 votes.
Hayatudeen came in a distant third with 1,121 votes.
The outcome from Imo gave Atiku a major boost in the contest, even as results from other states were still being expected at the time of filing this report.
The ADC presidential primary is being closely watched as the party moves to produce its flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.
With results still coming in from other states, the contest remains open among the aspirants.
The figures from Bayelsa and Imo showed a mixed performance for the two leading aspirants, with Amaechi securing a major win in Bayelsa while Atiku took a commanding lead in Imo.
Meanwhile, Amaechi had earlier vowed to reject the outcome of the presidential primary if the process was not free and fair.
Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor, stated this after casting his vote at his ward in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He, however, said he would accept the result and work with whoever emerges as the party’s presidential candidate if the process is credible.
Speaking with journalists after voting, Amaechi said the turnout at his ward was impressive and peaceful.
He said officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present during the exercise before he cast his vote.
Amaechi said, “It was a huge turnout. First, there was celebration and dancing, then we got the INEC people involved, and I cast my vote and left the place.”
The former minister said he had been monitoring the conduct of the primary across the country from Rivers State.
Amaechi said his decision to accept the outcome of the primary would depend on whether the process across the country was as transparent as what he witnessed in his community.
He said, “I was monitoring the country state-by-state where I was, I hope the system would be transparent as it was in my village, if it’s transparent I would accept the result but if it’s not free and fair a lot of us would react.”
The former governor said the ADC must ensure that the process reflects the will of party members.