Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, on Friday said the first runner-up in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, Rotimi Amaechi, should be grateful to Peter Obi for leaving the party before the primaries.

Idam said Amaechi would have ended up in third position and suffered a more humbling defeat if Obi had remained a member of the ADC and participated in the presidential primary election.

He made the remark while stating that Amaechi and former President Goodluck Jonathan should confess their greed and ingratitude to nature.

Amaechi came second behind the winner and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the just-concluded presidential primary election.

However, in a statement he signed, the activist lawyer said: “There was no surprise in the outcome of the ADC’s presidential primaries. As anticipated, Atiku emerged as the candidate.

“What would truly have been surprising was Amaechi securing the ticket. Deep down, I doubt he genuinely expected victory himself, except by choosing self-deception. Even without spending a kobo to induce delegates, Atiku’s victory would still likely have been a landslide.

“It was a predictable outcome from the very beginning. Amaechi should, in fact, be grateful to Obi for leaving the party before the primaries. Otherwise, his defeat would have been even more humbling, as he may have ended up in a distant third position.

“Now, history will fairly record that he contested for the presidency twice and came second on both occasions, without necessarily capturing the context, the scores, or the circumstances surrounding those contests. Those whom providence has favoured should never mistake grace for entitlement.

“They should learn to read the room and understand the rhythm of time and season. Like Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi appears to have enjoyed uncommon opportunities without any particularly compelling human justification.

“Continuing to seek higher positions beyond a certain point risks stretching favour and grace beyond their natural limits, and that can begin to resemble ingratitude.”

Idam, who mocked Atiku for his persistence in seeking the presidency, said politics has become existential for the former Vice President.

He added: “As for Atiku, he seems determined to keep the dice rolling against the tide of nature. For him, politics has become existential.

“He must remain in the race and will likely only stop when nature itself compels him to. Otherwise, every election cycle inevitably finds him as a candidate somewhere, regardless of zoning arrangements or prevailing sentiments.

“Whether he eventually succeeds is a question only time and destiny can answer.

“But Nigeria must ultimately free itself from the grip of kleptomaniacs and entrenched power brokers. Freedom has become inevitable.”

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sued for peace as members staged a peaceful protest over alleged irregularities during the party’s primaries in Edo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NDC primaries to choose its candidates for the 2027 general elections were held nationwide on Friday for the presidential, National Assembly, and House of Assembly elections.

NAN reports that some aggrieved members of the party in the state protested just as the primaries were about to commence, over what they described as irregularities by the National Working Committee in the conduct of the exercise.

The Chairman of the NDC primaries in Edo, Mr Fred Owotorufa, while briefing newsmen in Benin, said the primaries must hold and would be concluded before midnight.

Owotorufa directed all the aspirants and their supporters to move to their various wards and local government areas for the primaries, assuring them that the process would be free and fair.

He said the outcome of the primaries would be sent from the wards to the local government area offices of the party, the constituency offices, and then to the committee in Benin for collation at the state level.

“This process should be concluded before 12 midnight. It’s a selfless sacrifice, and we should all be prepared to sacrifice for our great nation and party.

“We must conclude this process before 12 midnight, and we should sacrifice for it,” he said.

He explained that the NDC does not have a preferred aspirant, adding that it has provided a level playing field for all.

One of the aggrieved party faithful, Mr Cletus Omoruyi, alleged that they were asked to come out early, only for the party leaders to direct them to return to their various wards.

“How is it possible? Look at the time. They are not being transparent enough; hence the protest,” he said.

Another protester, Ms Monica Enabulele, said she was very disappointed with the whole process because they all expected the committee to be proactive.

“We are not sure that we will get what we expected from this process,” she said.

Mr David Omokugbo, a chieftain of the party, demanded that the committee explain the reason for keeping them waiting for so long before issuing the directive on direct primaries.

Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, has said the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) will not attempt to rig election results during the 2027 elections.

Mohammed also stated that the APM would resist any attempt to rig its candidates out of victory in the 2027 polls.

He spoke at the Bauchi Government House during the affirmation of candidates for elective positions in the state.

Mohammed said the APM would resist any attempt to deny the party victory through electoral malpractice.

He said: “We are not going to think less of our competitors. Even if a child born today is a candidate, I will treat him like an adult.

“It is a new game entirely. We are going back to the communities to share our qualifications and what we have accomplished.

“We won’t ask anyone to cheat for us, but we also won’t let anyone cheat us. This is our policy.”

Mohammed urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and credible.

“If we win, we will accept it. If we lose, we will accept it, especially when there is openness, fairness, and equality. That is democracy,” he added.