Atiku Wins ADC Ticket, Seeks Unity With Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election.

The result was announced on Wednesday night at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, where party leaders formally presented the ADC flag to Atiku after the conclusion of the nationwide direct primary election.

According to the final results released by the party, Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes to defeat former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who polled 504,117 votes, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who scored 177,120 votes.

The total votes cast in the election stood at 2,546,457, while the party recorded a total membership figure of 3,113,599 for the exercise.

A breakdown of the results showed Atiku defeated Amaechi by 1,342,253 votes and Hayatu-Deen by 1,669,250 votes.

The ADC presidential primary began on Monday with party members across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory participating through the direct primary method after efforts to adopt a consensus candidate failed.

Speaking after his victory, Atiku appealed for unity within the party and urged aggrieved members to work together ahead of the general election.

“I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us,” he said.

He specifically called on Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to join him in what he described as a collective mission to rescue the country.

“In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” Atiku stated.

The former vice president stressed that the primary election should not create divisions within the party.

“There are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership and I am ready to lead,” he added.

Atiku also pledged to work with all stakeholders to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had earlier rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging irregularities and manipulation of the voting process.

Amaechi described the results as “concocted,” while Hayatu-Deen boycotted the final collation and declaration ceremony in Abuja.

Despite the protests, the party leadership led by David Mark proceeded with the announcement of the final results.

In his acceptance speech, Atiku said the ADC had demonstrated internal democracy despite challenges facing opposition politics in Nigeria.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to suppress opposition voices and warned against interference in party affairs.

Atiku also outlined key policy priorities for the ADC ahead of the election, including security, economic reform, healthcare and education.

He promised to strengthen security agencies, improve primary healthcare systems and expand access to education, including free and compulsory basic education.

On the economy, he criticised current government policies, arguing that worsening hardship, borrowing and subsidy decisions had deepened poverty across the country.

He said the party would focus on what he described as “renewed action” to rebuild Nigeria if elected into office in 2027.