Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election after recording a commanding victory over former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, in the party’s presidential primary election.
The outcome of the keenly contested exercise was announced late Wednesday in a statement issued by the party after the conclusion of voting conducted across its nationwide structure.
According to the ADC, Atiku secured a landslide victory with 1,855,787 votes to defeat Amaechi, who polled 509,397 votes, while Hayatu-Deen came third with 180,903 votes.
The party’s statement read in part: “Atiku defeats Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen to secure ADC presidential ticket. Final result: Atiku 1,855,787; Amaechi 509,397; Hayatu-Deen 180,903. Total votes cast: 2,546,457. Total party membership for the election: 3,113,599. Congratulations to Waziri Atiku.”
The ADC had earlier faced internal pressure from some stakeholders who pushed for a consensus arrangement in order to prevent divisions ahead of the 2027 general election.
However, the three leading aspirants reportedly refused to step down for one another, compelling the party to proceed with a full-scale direct primary.
Party leaders said the direct primary option aligned with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the ADC’s commitment to internal democracy.
However, the process was not without controversy, as Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had earlier raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the election.
Both candidates were also absent at the time the final results were officially announced, in what appeared to be a boycott of the declaration.
Atiku’s victory is expected to significantly reshape political alignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as opposition parties intensify manoeuvres aimed at unseating the ruling party at the federal level.
FOLLOW US
FOR MORE HERE