Atiku Defeats Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen to Clinch ADC Presidential Ticket for 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election after securing a commanding victory in the party’s primary election held in Abuja.

The high-stakes contest saw Atiku defeat former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in a race that has already intensified political conversations ahead of the next presidential election.

The Returning Officer for the exercise, Tunde Ogbeha, announced the final results on Wednesday night at the party’s collation centre in Abuja.

According to the official figures released by the party, Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes to emerge winner by a wide margin. Amaechi secured 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen finished with 177,120 votes.

The ADC disclosed that it had a total of 3,113,599 registered members nationwide, while 2,527,977 votes were cast during the primary election process.

Atiku’s victory now positions him as one of the leading opposition figures expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The outcome also marks another major political chapter for the former vice president, who has remained one of Nigeria’s most influential opposition politicians over the years and has repeatedly contested for the presidency under different political platforms.

For Amaechi, the defeat comes amid growing political uncertainty following his recent criticisms of the primary process. The former Rivers governor had earlier alleged widespread irregularities and voter disenfranchisement within the exercise, insisting he would only accept a transparent and credible outcome.

Hayatu-Deen had also pulled out of the results announcement process earlier, citing concerns over alleged electoral malpractice during the primaries.

The ADC primary has now added fresh momentum to the rapidly evolving 2027 political landscape, with opposition alliances, possible defections, and presidential calculations already dominating discussions across the country.

Political observers believe Atiku’s emergence could trigger new negotiations among opposition blocs seeking to build a stronger coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the general election.