Atiku sends first major message to Amaechi after rejection of ADC presidential primary results

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has extended birthday wishes to former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, even as Amaechi rejected the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election.

In a message shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Atiku described Amaechi as “a brother and fellow patriot,” while praising his contributions and years of service to Rivers State and Nigeria.

“Happy Birthday to my brother and fellow patriot, H.E. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Your courage, conviction, and years of service to Rivers State and Nigeria continue to inspire many across the country. I pray for your good health, strength, and many more years of impactful service to our nation,” Atiku wrote.

The goodwill message came a day after Amaechi publicly rejected the outcome of the ADC presidential primary, describing the results as fraudulent and lacking credibility.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Amaechi referred to the outcome of the exercise as “fabricated results,” insisting he would not accept any process that failed to reflect fairness and transparency.

He added that he had earlier made it clear he would only accept the outcome if the election was conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

Amaechi further alleged that about 80 percent of party members nationwide were denied the opportunity to vote during the primary.

Atiku also criticized the ADC, saying it was inconsistent for the party to condemn electoral malpractice such as vote buying and manipulation while allegedly engaging in similar practices during its own internal election.