THE Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the winner of the presidential primary election of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party announced that Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes to defeat his closest challenger, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, who polled 504,117 votes. Businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen came third with 177,120 votes.
Speaking after his victory, Atiku lauded the ADC leadership for conducting what he described as a democratic process despite challenges facing opposition politics in the country.
According to him, the exercise showed that democracy remains active within the ADC even as opposition parties continue to accuse the ruling party of suppressing democratic values.
ADC National Chairman, David Mark, said the party provided a level playing field for all aspirants and allowed members to freely choose their preferred candidate.
He admitted that although the exercise was not perfect, there was room for improvement.
The contest for the party’s presidential ticket intensified as Atiku, Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen participated in the nationwide direct primary election conducted across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards using the Option A4 voting system.
However, while Atiku commended the process, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the outcome over alleged irregularities.
Amaechi accused the party of widespread voter disenfranchisement and dismissed the announced results as manipulated.
In a statement shared on X, the former Minister of Transportation said many party members were prevented from participating in the exercise.
Similarly, Hayatu-Deen distanced himself from the announcement of the results, alleging widespread vote rigging and stating that he would consult with his team on the next course of action.
Atiku and Amaechi joined the ADC in July 2025 alongside several opposition figures, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, as part of a broader coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC in the 2027 elections.
However, Obi later defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The outcome of the primary is seen as a major step for the ADC as it positions itself as a strong opposition platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With the conclusion of the primaries, Atiku will officially represent the ADC in the 2027 presidential race.
