Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen Battle for ADC Presidential Ticket as Primaries Hold Nationwide

The African Democratic Congress on Sunday commenced its nationwide presidential primary election to choose its flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election, with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and banker-turned-politician Mohammed Hayatu-Deen vying for the party’s ticket.

The exercise is taking place across 8,809 wards and 774 local government areas nationwide as party members vote to determine who will fly the ADC flag in the 2027 presidential race.

The primary comes after several efforts by party stakeholders to adopt a consensus candidate reportedly failed to produce an agreement among the leading aspirants.

The winner of the contest is expected to square up against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Peter Obi, who recently emerged as the consensus presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking ahead of the primary, Hayatu-Deen pledged to revive Nigeria’s economy, establish a terrorism court and strengthen intelligence coordination among security agencies if elected president.

He argued that the country’s economic hardship and worsening insecurity were deeply connected, saying persistent violence had fueled poverty, unemployment and rising food inflation across the country.

Hayatu-Deen had contested the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022 before stepping down ahead of the primary election.

Amaechi, on his part, urged ADC delegates to choose a candidate capable of defeating Tinubu in the next election, warning against ethnic and religious considerations in selecting the party’s standard-bearer.

According to him, the opposition must present a formidable and nationally acceptable candidate capable of leading a broad coalition against the ruling party.

Amaechi was among the aspirants who contested the APC presidential primary in 2022 but lost to Tinubu.

Meanwhile, Atiku said the 2027 election would mark his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president after decades in active politics.

The former vice-president, who defected from the PDP to the ADC in 2025, has contested for the presidency multiple times and previously appeared on the presidential ballot in 2007, 2019 and 2023.

Party officials are expected to announce the outcome of the primary after collation of results from across the country.