Tensions have erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following allegations of electoral manipulation and violence during its senatorial primary election, as aspirant, Dr. Mubarak Ahmad Tijani, has accused supporters loyal to Senator Ireti Kingibe of orchestrating an attack against him and his followers.
Dr. Tijani alleged that the credibility of the exercise was compromised after party members reportedly discovered that results were being collated at a private office allegedly linked to Senator Kingibe, despite claims that no proper voting process had taken place across designated centres.
Eyewitness accounts gathered from party members indicated that confusion and tension escalated after aspirants and delegates waited for hours without any formal commencement of voting.
According to supporters of Tijani, concerns over the legitimacy of the process prompted them to move to the alleged collation venue to demand transparency and clarification from party officials.
However, the situation reportedly turned violent upon their arrival. Some party members alleged that Tijani’s supporters were attacked shortly after entering the premises.
“We were locked inside the office and attacked by supporters and loyalists of Senator Kingibe,” one party source alleged.
Another member described the incident as “a coordinated attempt to silence opposition voices within the party.”
Following the confrontation, Dr. Tijani, who was said to have sustained injuries and later received medical attention, condemned the process, describing it as a breach of internal democracy within the ADC.
He said: “We are filing a formal report to reject this primary election because what happened was not democracy.
“I honestly do not understand what is happening. We gathered everybody, our supporters, party members and followers — and they stayed under the sun from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m., yet elections were not conducted.”
“To our greatest surprise, fake results were being collated at one of the aspirants’ offices.”
Tijani maintained that his actions were aimed at defending due process and safeguarding the integrity of the party’s internal democratic system.
“I happen to be a senatorial aspirant and I went there to defend my mandate as a party member and as somebody who respects the law. Unfortunately, this is what came out of it,” he added.
Several supporters were also reportedly injured during the ensuing chaos.
As of the time of filing this report, Senator Ireti Kingibe and her camp had yet to respond officially to the allegations.
The development has sparked outrage among sections of the party, with Tijani’s supporters calling on the national leadership of the ADC to cancel the primary election and order an independent investigation into the incident.
They also urged security agencies to intervene and ensure that those allegedly responsible for the violence are identified and brought to justice.
In a passionate appeal, Dr. Tijani urged ADC members and democracy advocates not to remain silent over the matter, insisting that the integrity of the party must be protected.
