BREAKING: Atiku Clinches ADC Presidential Ticket, Defeats Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen in Landmark Primary
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election after securing a decisive victory in the party’s nationwide direct primary election.
The results released by the party’s electoral committee showed that Atiku defeated former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and renowned economist and banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, in what has become one of the most closely watched opposition primaries ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
Final Results;Atiku Abubakar scored 1,855,787 votes, Rotimi Amaechi garnered 509,397 votes, while Mohammed Hayatu-Deen got 180,903 votes. According to the official figures announced by the party: Total votes cast were 2,546,457, while the total party membership eligible for the election stand as 3,113,599.
Atiku’s overwhelming victory further cements his dominance within the opposition coalition and positions him as the ADC’s standard bearer in the forthcoming presidential election.
The direct primary, conducted across the federation, witnessed significant participation from party members despite controversies that trailed the exercise in some states. Prior to the announcement of the results, Hayatu-Deen had alleged widespread irregularities and vote manipulation, while Amaechi also distanced himself from the outcome, describing parts of the process as compromised.
Despite the protests from rival camps, the ADC electoral panel proceeded with the collation and declaration of results, insisting that the exercise reflected the wishes of party members nationwide.
Political observers believe Atiku’s emergence could significantly reshape the opposition landscape as parties begin strategic alignments ahead of 2027. His victory is also expected to intensify political calculations within both the ruling party and other opposition blocs seeking alliances before the general election.
Supporters of the former vice president erupted in celebration shortly after the announcement, with jubilant scenes reported in parts of Abuja, Adamawa, and several northern states where Atiku maintains a strong political structure.
Party leaders have since called on all aspirants and their supporters to unite behind the party’s candidate in order to strengthen the ADC’s chances in the 2027 presidential election.
