Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is leading the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, after winning five states as delegates across the country cast their votes to pick the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.
The contest, which has generated national attention ahead of the next electoral cycle, has Atiku, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen as contenders.
While the party’s national leadership has yet to formally announce the final collated results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, figures from some states showed Atiku holding a commanding lead in the early count.
The former vice president is said to have won in Gombe, Abia, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, fuelling the anticipation that he could emerge as the party’s presidential candidate if the pattern persists.
In Gombe State, the Returning Officer, Prof. David Agbu, said Atiku got 139,334 votes. Amaechi came a distant second with 1,150 votes while Hayatu-Deen got 464 votes.
Atiku also led the poll in Abia State with 25,153 votes, beating Amaechi who scored 18,339 votes. Hayatu-Deen polled 3,264 votes.
The former vice president also recorded another landslide victory in Ebonyi State. According to results released by the ADC National Vice Chairman (Diaspora), Fred Onwe, Atiku scored 15,300 votes, Amaechi polled 2,200 votes while Hayatu-Deen scored 200 votes.
The Sokoto results also re-affirmed Atiku’s preeminence in the early phases of the exercise. He got 68,823 votes while Amaechi had 292 votes and Hayatu-Deen, 319 votes.
The same pattern was seen in Zamfara State, where Atiku scored 60,500 votes. Hayatu-Deen polled 436 votes and Amaechi 191 votes.
The ongoing primary is viewed as a major test of strength within the ADC as opposition parties continue realignments ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku has been the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 and 2023 elections and remains one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, campaigned on promises of institutional reforms and greater internal party democracy, while Hayatu-Deen campaigned on promises of economic restructuring and growth driven by the private sector.
But Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, one of three aspirants seeking the Presidential ticket of ADC for the 2027 election, has announced his withdrawal from the ongoing process of the exercise, citing concerns over alleged irregularities.
Hayatu-Deen said in a statement issued on Tuesday that reports of widespread vote rigging from across the country had raised serious doubts about the credibility of the process.
I will not be attending today’s announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results. He said: “I am concerned at reports across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I saw myself, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps.”
The development comes amid stiff competition for the ADC presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen.
Earlier, the party had described its primary as a transparent and democratic process.
Hayatu-Deen’s absence from the announcement of the results could increase tension within the opposition party as collation continues across the country.
Daily Trust reports that arrangements for the announcement of the results have been finalised and the venue in Abuja is fully set for the exercise.
Political observers say the ADC primary is likely to influence coalition talks among opposition blocs seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Party officials are expected to announce the full results later after collating from the remaining states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Meanwhile, the African Action Congress, AAC has announced the resignation of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore as the party’s National Chairman.
The party revealed this in a statement on Tuesday shortly after Sowore emerged as the AAC presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections during the party’s primaries in Abuja.
The statement said Samuel Ajeigbe has been appointed the new National Chairman of the party.
“Omoyele Sowore has formally resigned as the National Chairman of the African Action Congress.
“The party hereby welcomes Samuel Ajeigbe as the new National Chairman of our great party,” the statement said.
The development is a major leadership transition for the AAC as the party ramps up preparations for the 2027 elections.
Sowore’s resignation came hours after he won the party’s presidential ticket with a unanimous endorsement of delegates and party leaders at the primaries held in the Federal Capital Territory.
As the activist was handed the party’s flag, supporters and delegates from across the country cheered.
Sowore, speaking after accepting the nomination, said the AAC was founded to build a “new Nigeria” free of corruption, insecurity and bad governance.
He praised party members for their commitment in the face of political pressure and economic hardship in the country.
Sowore also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing it of incompetence and trying to manipulate public perception ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the primaries, he dismissed claims that over 10 million APC members participated in President Bola Tinubu’s presidential primary.
“There is no way APC can have 10 million membership.
APC cannot even boast of 10,000 members, I can tell you that,” Sowore said.
In a related development, Fatai Owoseni, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, has withdrawn from the Accord Party governorship primary in Oyo State, citing alleged manipulation of the party structure and rising violence within the party.
Owoseni, a former Security Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, made his decision known in a statement on Tuesday through his X handle.
Owoseni said that the recent developments in the party had made it difficult for his governorship ambition to thrive on the Accord platform.
“I address you with a heavy, but determined heart. I greet the good people of Oyo State, and the members and teeming supporters of our party, the Accord Party,” he said.
He also expressed his sympathy to the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Ogbomoso and their families.
“First, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of our people who were victims of the recent terrorist attack in Ogbomoso.
“I commiserate deeply with the families of those who were gruesomely murdered during the attack. “I can’t imagine the fear, pain and uncertainty hanging in the day-to-day activities of the families of those still in captivity,” he said.
According to him, security challenges facing the state should ordinarily dominate public discourse at the moment.
“I am not oblivious to the fact that during this difficult period, nothing should be worthy of discussion in the public space other than finding a solution to our security challenges,” he added.
Explaining his withdrawal, Owoseni alleged that there were orchestrated moves within the party aimed at frustrating his aspiration.
“However, in light of the responsibility I owe our teeming supporters, I’m constrained to avail myself of this time to announce my decision to rethink my political company and association with the Accord Party.
“Within the past twelve hours, ongoing developments in the party point to orchestrated plans to ensure that our gubernatorial aspiration via the platform of the Accord Party is not achieved,” he said.
The former police commissioner further accused unnamed political interests of infiltrating the party structure in a bid to sustain control of government in the state.
“The first is the total infiltration and manipulation of the party structure, especially at the state level, by elements within the state who will go to any lengths to ensure that perpetuity in government is sustained.
“Secondly, thuggery and violence are emerging as instruments to destabilise the party to ensure that the entire process is stalemated,” he alleged.
Owoseni said the developments had compelled him to step aside from the party.
“In light of the foregoing and some other issues that will be unveiled in due course, I’m compelled to withdraw and step aside from the Accord Party,” he said.
