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•As 3.4m members vote to elect presidential flagbearer today
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
No fewer than 3,441,851 members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across the country will be voting in a direct primary today to choose its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
The ADC primary, which will be superintended over by a committee headed by former Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, will have the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and former chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen battling for the opposition party’s presidential ticket for next year’s election. Atiku, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had earlier been screened and cleared to participate in the exercise by a panel chaired by former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday confirmed that the presidential primary will be held in all the wards across the 774 local government areas with all eligible members voting to choose the party’s presidential candidate.
“All registered members are eligible to participate, eligible to vote. As you know, it is all over the 8,000 awards across the country that the voting will take place. In the register that we submitted to INEC, the total number (of members) we have is 3441,851,” Abdullahi stated.
Daily Sun gathered that while the leadership of the opposition party had mulled the idea of a consensus, it abandoned the idea after indications emerged that the three presidential aspirants were not favorably disposed to it, and opted for direct primary. Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 stipulates that “the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct primaries or consensus.”
A member of the ADC National Executive Committee (NEC) told Daily Sun that the idea of a consensus collapsed the moment it became clear that none of the three presidential aspirants was ready to step down. “We didn’t pursue that (consensus), the moment the three persons said they were not willing to step down. It is only in ADC that we have three presidential aspirants. We want to show how democracy should be. All the other parties are doing coronation. ADC is setting a clear example.”
Pundits say the outcome of the primary and the way the exercise is managed will to a great extent determine how far the ADC would go in the 2027 general election. Recall that in recent times, tension heightened in the opposition party as the contestants for the presidential tickets pushed their candidacy.
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Former ADC National, Chief Okey Nwosu, told Daily Sun that because all the aspirants are eminently qualified for the presidential ticket, it is going to be a keenly contested primary. However, he added that members will settle for a candidate that will lead the ADC to victory in the 2027 polls.
“The primary is going to be keenly contested. But I know that the party leaders and members are seasoned enough to know who will bring them victory in the polls. This is like a general election. The leadership and membership know who can bring them victory in 2027. Because that is our mission so that we can rescue this country.”
Meanwhile, a group of ADC stakeholders in the South West has endorsed Hayatu-Deen, describing him as the candidate best prepared to reposition Nigeria and lead the country out of its current economic and governance crisis.
The stakeholders, in a statement by Babajide Dosunmu, leader, ADC South-West Professionals Forum, said their decision was driven by “a clear understanding that Nigeria can no longer afford experimental leadership, political theatrics, or recycled governance failures.”
According to them, Hayatu-Deen’s background in banking, economic management, public policy, and institutional leadership gives him a unique advantage in addressing the country’s worsening economic hardship, unemployment crisis, insecurity, and declining investor confidence.
“The South West has always stood for progressive politics, competence in governance, intellectual depth, and economic transformation. After extensive engagement and consultations, we are convinced that Mohammed Hayatu-Deen represents the kind of leadership Nigeria urgently requires at this critical moment.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive, when businesses are collapsing, when young people are losing hope, and when insecurity continues to threaten national stability, Nigeria needs a leader with proven competence, discipline, and a serious understanding of how economies function. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen possesses those qualities.
“The decision before delegates on Monday is bigger than personalities. It is about the future of our party and the future of Nigeria. We believe Mohammed Hayatu-Deen gives the ADC its strongest opportunity to inspire confidence among Nigerians and present a serious national alternative capable of winning and governing effectively,” the stakeholders stated.
