By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

Pandemonium and allegations of electoral fraud rocked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries in Kogi Central on Thursday as several senatorial and House of Representatives aspirants accused party officials and political loyalists of hijacking electoral materials and sabotaging the exercise.

The primaries, scheduled to fill the ADC’s senatorial and House of Representatives tickets for the 2027 elections, reportedly failed to take place across wards in Adavi, Okehi, Ajaokuta and other parts of Kogi Central after voting materials allegedly never reached designated centers.

Addressing journalists in Lokoja, House of Representatives aspirant Hon. Aisha Ibrahim Adoke described the incident as “a rape on democracy,” claiming that party members and supporters who gathered from early morning were left stranded as no voting materials arrived.

A senatorial aspirant, Hon.Omolori Murtala in a Press conference in Okene said electoral materials meant for the exercise never left the ADC state secretariat.

“While party members waited at the wards, two aspirants allegedly stormed the state secretariat and carted away the electoral materials meant for the elections,” Murtala alleged.

He further claimed that the action was carried out “At gunpoint,” accusing loyalists of Senator Ahmed Ogembe of executing a premeditated plan to manipulate the process and impose candidates on the party.

The aggrieved aspirants referenced earlier petitions allegedly submitted to the ADC national leadership, warning of plans to hijack electoral materials and relocate coalition centers to private residences.

“We reject any result that may emerge from what happened at the state secretariat today,” Murtala declared.

The group demanded the immediate cancellation of the exercise and called on the ADC National Secretariat to constitute an independent electoral committee to conduct a fresh and credible direct primary across all wards in Kogi Central.

They also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard any results submitted from the disputed exercise.
“We will pursue all lawful and peaceful means to protect the mandate of ADC members in Kogi Central,” Murtala added.

Another House of Representatives aspirant for Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency, Hon. Aisha Ibrahim Adoke, PhD, also condemned the events, describing them as “a rape of democratic rights.”

Speaking during the briefing, Oiza Godwin alleged that the officially approved coalition center was changed without notice from a local government primary school to a private residence linked to a party executive.

She said delays began shortly after the electoral committee assigned to Kogi State arrived, despite voters waiting at polling centers from as early as 8 a.m.
“As at 1:30 p.m., the materials were still not out,” she said.

Oiza further alleged that after the materials were eventually released, some aspirants and their supporters forcefully intercepted and diverted them while en route to the wards.

She claimed one individual was injured during the confrontation and accused party executives of failing to act despite repeated petitions and warnings.
“We are declaring Kogi Central ADC in a state of emergency,” she stated.

“No elections were conducted here today, and any results presented are null, invalid and unacceptable.”

Another aspirant who witnessed it, Hon. Ado Okikiri, reportedly corroborated the allegations, insisting that what occurred in Lokoja was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise party members.

The aspirants called on the ADC National Working Committee, INEC and the international community to intervene immediately to restore confidence in the process and prevent what they described as an attempt to “hand Kogi Central back to the APC through the back door.”
Despite the controversy, the aggrieved aspirants urged party supporters not to lose hope.

“No stolen materials, no stolen mandate, no fake results,” the group declared. “2027 belongs to the people.”