Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, were on Wednesday screened by the African Democratic Congress ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2027 general election.
The screening exercise took place behind closed doors at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja amid growing consultations within the party over the mode of selecting its presidential candidate.
The panel conducting the exercise was headed by former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, while Cyril Maduabum served as secretary.
Hayatu-Deen arrived at the venue in the morning and spent about an hour before the panel. Atiku arrived shortly after noon for his own screening session.
Speaking with journalists after the exercise, Hayatu-Deen described the process as smooth and expressed readiness for whichever option the party eventually adopts in choosing its candidate.
According to him, the ADC may either settle for a consensus arrangement or proceed with direct primaries in the coming days.
“I spent approximately one hour in the room and it went very well. We are now at a very pivotal moment in the campaign process. At 11 o’clock this morning, I came and I was screened,” he said.
“We are now going to go through a major momentous event in the sense that we’ll either undergo a consensus exercise or go into direct primaries within the short period of time that is available. I stand ready, able, and willing to go through that process.”
The former banker also used the opportunity to outline his vision for the country if he eventually emerges as the party’s candidate.
He said his campaign would focus on insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and the declining state of education and healthcare across the country.
“I will like to pledge to the Nigerian people that I will wage a campaign that is disciplined, focused, and geared towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians at a very difficult moment in the nation’s history,” he stated.
Hayatu-Deen added that he entered the race after careful planning and preparation.
“You don’t go into this kind of thing without preparation. You put your credibility and your name on the line. It’s very expensive,” he added.
Shortly after his exit, Atiku met with members of the screening committee.
The former vice president, however, declined to make extensive comments after the exercise and simply told reporters, “The screening went well.”
Atiku remains one of the biggest opposition figures in the country, having contested for the presidency several times since 1993. His latest move comes amid fresh political realignments and coalition discussions among opposition politicians seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Hayatu-Deen, on the other hand, is regarded by many within the party as one of the technocratic voices pushing for economic reforms and institutional restructuring.
As of the time this report was filed, former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was yet to arrive for his screening.
The ADC is expected to conclude the screening process before deciding whether to adopt consensus or conduct direct primaries for the selection of its presidential flag bearer.
