Former Vice President,  Atiku Abubakar is leading his two co-contestants in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries.

The primaries, which were conducted across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory on Monday, were monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The two other aspirants in the race for the party’s ticket are former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and Mallam Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primaries Election Committee, Chief Ikechi Emenike, had assured party members that the exercise would be transparent, free, and fair.

Results from 24 states and the FCT had been announced as of the time of filing this report.

Out of the declared results, Atiku won 22 states and the FCT, while Amaechi won two states — Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

The former Transport Minister and Hayatu-Deen, however, rejected the outcome of the primaries, alleging rigging.

Amaechi, in a statement posted on X, said the result did “not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold in rescuing Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement that our country is currently facing under the ruling party.”

He said he had initially agreed to accept the outcome “if the process was free, fair, and transparent, and I stand by my word.”

Hayatu-Deen also expressed concern over “reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I personally observed,” adding that he would be “taking advice on my next steps.”