Miswar bin Makhrama reported,

The group whom Umar had appointed gathered together and consulted with one another. Abdul-Rahman said to them, "I am not the one to compete with you over this matter, but if you wish, I will choose one of you for you."So they entrusted the matter to Abdul-Rahman. When they delegated the affair to him, the people inclined toward Abdul-Rahman, so much so that I did not see anyone from among the people following those members of the council or stepping in their tracks. The people inclined toward Abdul-Rahman, consulting with him during those nights, until the night came after which we pledged allegiance to Uthman in the morning.Miswar said, "Abdul-Rahman came knocking at my door after a portion of the night had passed. He struck the door until I woke up, and he said, 'I see you are sleeping. By Allah, I have not had much sleep this night. Go and call Zubayr and Saad for me.'"So I called them for him, and he consulted with them. Then he called me and said, "Call Ali for me." So I called him, and Abdul-Rahman conversed privately with him until the night was halfway through. Then Ali rose from his presence with hope, for Abdul-Rahman had been wary of something concerning Ali.Then he said, "Call Uthman for me." So I called him, and Abdul-Rahman conversed privately with him until the muezzin's call to the dawn prayer separated them.When he had led the people in the dawn prayer and that group had gathered at the pulpit, he sent for those of the Emigrants and the Helpers who were present, and he sent for the commanders of the armies, who had performed the pilgrimage that year along with Umar.When they had all assembled, Abdul-Rahman pronounced the testimony of faith and then said, "To proceed. Ali, I have looked into the affair of the people, and I do not find them regarding anyone as equal to Uthman. So do not place yourself in a difficult position."Ali said, "I pledge allegiance to you upon the Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger and the two caliphs after him."So Abdul-Rahman pledged allegiance to him, and the people pledged allegiance to him, the Emigrants, the Helpers, the commanders of the armies, and the Muslims.

عن المسور بن مخرمة

أن الرهط الذين ولاهم عمر، اجتمعوا فتشاوروا، فقال لهم: عبد الرحمن: لست بالذي أنافسكم على هذا الأمر، ولكن إن شئتم اخترت لكم منكم، فجعلوا ذلك إلى عبد الرحمن، فلما ولوا عبد الرحمن أمرهم، فمال الناس على عبد الرحمن حتى مال أرى أحدا من الناس يتبع أولئك الرهط، ولا يطأ عقبه ومال الناس على عبد الرحمن يشاورونه تلك الليالي، حتى إذا كانت الليلة التي أصبحنا منها، فبايعنا عثمان. قال المسور: فطرقني عبد الرحمن بعد هجع من الليل، فضرب الباب حتى استيقظت، فقال: أراك نائما، فوالله ما اكتحلت هذه الليلة بكبير نوم، انطلق، فادع الزبير وسعدا فدعوتهما له فشاورهما، ثم دعاني فقال: ادع لي عليا، فدعوته، فناجاه حتى ابهار الليل، ثم قام علي من عنده وهو على طمع، وقد كان عبد الرحمن يخشى من علي شيئا، ثم قال: ادع لي عثمان، فدعوته، فناجاه حتى فرق بينهما المؤذن بالصبح، فلما صلى للناس الصبح، واجتمع أولئك الرهط عند المنبر، فأرسل إلى من كان حاضرا من المهاجرين والأنصار، وأرسل إلى أمراء الأجناد، وكانوا وافقوا تلك الحجة مع عمر، فلما اجتمعوا تشهد عبد الرحمن، ثم قال: أما بعد! يا علي، إني قد نظرت في أمر الناس، فلم أرهم يعدلون بعثمان، فلا تجعلن على نفسك سبيلا، فقال: أبايعك على سنة الله ورسوله، والخليفتين من بعده، فبايعه عبد الرحمن، وبايعه الناس المهاجرون، والأنصار، وأمراء الأجناد، والمسلمون.