Edo South Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senatorial aspirant, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has alleged that the just concluded party’s primary election was massively rigged.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Agbonayinma said he won the primaries despite the rigging, and asked for the announcement of the result.

Recall that the NDC is yet to announce the result of her primary election which was held last week.

Agbonayinma said, “I won Edo South NDC primaries despite the process being rigged. I won the election honourably, with a large turnout, and ward chairmen, local government chairmen, and other party leaders all affirmed that I clearly won.

“There is no ambiguity about the result. What is delaying the announcement of the results since May 29th? Today is June 5th, so what exactly is being hidden or held back?

“We went through the primaries, and those who win should be allowed to move forward.

“If I had not won, I would have conceded to the rightful winner, but since I won, I should be given the opportunity to proceed based on the outcome of the election.”

The Zamfara State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has been thrown into a leadership crisis following the emergence of two rival factions, each claiming control of the party’s structure in the state.

The factions are led by Kabiru Garba Gusau and Shehu Muhammad Maisshanu Guluba, both of whom insist they are the legitimate leaders of the party in Zamfara State.

Despite the dispute over the party’s leadership, the two camps have maintained a common position that Barrister Mahadi Aliyu Gusau remains the party’s governorship candidate after emerging victorious in the ADC primary election.

Addressing journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, Guluba dismissed reports suggesting that the party had replaced its governorship candidate, describing the claims as false and misleading.

He reaffirmed that Mahadi Aliyu Gusau remains the ADC’s candidate for the governorship election and urged party members and supporters to disregard information suggesting otherwise.

Guluba also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to create confusion within the party through the circulation of what he described as misinformation.

However, the faction led by Kabiru Garba Gusau insisted that he remains the duly recognised state chairman of the ADC in Zamfara.

According to him, any attempt to recognise another person as chairman is contrary to the party’s constitution, maintaining that he was validly elected into office.

Gusau further claimed that his leadership enjoys the recognition of the party’s national secretariat, noting that the congress which produced him was conducted under the supervision of officials from the national headquarters.

The development highlights growing internal tensions within the Zamfara ADC as rival groups continue to battle for control of the party structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While both factions remain at odds over leadership, they have continued to express support for the party’s governorship candidate, Mahadi Aliyu Gusau.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a suit before a High Court in Abuja involving the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, over concerns arising from an ongoing leadership dispute within the party.

Also joined in the suit is the National Judicial Council (NJC), which the party said had not addressed issues it raised regarding the handling of a case challenging the leadership of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, within the ADC.

The suit, dated June 4, 2026, was filed by the National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe against the Mark-led leadership of the party.

According to the suit, Ukandu expressed concerns about the handling of the matter and alleged that the actions of both Justice Tsoho and Justice Peter Lifu, the judge assigned to hear the case, could affect confidence in the proceedings.

The suit further stated that the assignment of the case to Justice Lifu had generated concerns among some members of the party, who believe the process may not guarantee a fair hearing.

The legal action marks a fresh twist in the leadership dispute within the ADC, which has attracted significant political attention ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Grassroots Mobilization Network (GMN) also raised concerns about the handling of the matter and called for transparency in the judicial process.

The group alleged that the judiciary was being used to target opposition parties.

However, these claims remain allegations, and no official response had been issued by the Federal High Court or Justice Lifu as of the time of filing this report.

The group expressed concern over what it described as growing public distrust in the judiciary and called on relevant authorities to ensure fairness and transparency in the handling of politically sensitive cases.

Neither the Federal High Court nor the National Judicial Council had publicly responded to the issues raised at the time of this report.