Atiku Abubakar wins African Democratic Congress presidential primary, defeating Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election after a decisive primary held in Abuja on Wednesday night.
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The announcement was made at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, where party officials confirmed his victory over former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The development marks a major political turning point as Atiku Abubakar ADC primary win reshapes early expectations ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
According to the official results, Atiku Abubakar secured 1,846,370 votes, while Rotimi Amaechi polled 504,117 votes and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen recorded 177,120 votes.
Party leaders stated that total votes cast stood at 2,546,457 from a membership strength of over 3.1 million registered delegates.
The African Democratic Congress leadership, led by former Senate President David Mark, formally presented the party flag to Atiku Abubakar after the declaration.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku Abubakar called for unity within the party and urged aggrieved aspirants to support the collective mission ahead of the general election.
He appealed directly to his fellow contestants, including Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, to join efforts in strengthening the party’s political base.
Atiku Abubakar stressed that the primary should not create division, insisting that internal competition must serve as a foundation for national cohesion.
He further pledged to prioritise security, education, healthcare and economic reform if elected president.
Atiku Abubakar also criticised worsening national conditions, arguing that poverty levels and economic hardship required urgent intervention and policy restructuring.
Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen had earlier rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities in the voting process and declining to attend the official announcement.
Despite the dispute, party officials maintained that the exercise reflected internal democracy and transparency within the African Democratic Congress.
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The primary outcome positions Atiku Abubakar as a central figure in Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, as political alignments continue to shift.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
