Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has secured the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election after a competitive primary held in Abuja. The announcement came on Wednesday night at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, where party officials confirmed his decisive victory over former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
According to the official results, Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi scored 504,117 votes and Hayatu-Deen recorded 177,120 votes. Consequently, the outcome reflected a wide margin, reinforcing Atiku’s dominance in the contest. Furthermore, the party leadership led by Senator David Mark formally presented the party flag to him after the declaration.
The primary, which began on May 25, 2026, involved delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Initially, the party explored a consensus arrangement; however, it eventually adopted a direct primary in line with electoral guidelines.
Speaking after his victory, Atiku called for unity among members and urged aggrieved aspirants to return and work together. In addition, he emphasized that internal competition should not divide the party. He also pledged to focus on security, education, healthcare, and economic reform ahead of the general election.
Meanwhile, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities in the voting process. Nevertheless, Atiku insisted that the ADC remains committed to internal democracy and national renewal. He further stated that the party will intensify mobilisation efforts nationwide to secure victory and address Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic challenges effectively going forward under his leadership
