Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been declared winner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, securing the party’s ticket for the 2027 general election.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the African Democratic Congress after a nationwide exercise held across the country.
Atiku defeated former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the contest.
According to the party, Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes to emerge winner, while Amaechi scored 504,117 votes and Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes.
The primary was conducted across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards using the Option A4 voting system, which allowed party members to line up behind their preferred candidates.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku described the process as transparent and democratic, insisting that the outcome reflected the will of party members.
He said the exercise showed that internal democracy was still active within the ADC, contrasting it with what he described as declining democratic standards in other political spaces.
However, the outcome has been met with controversy, as both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the results.
Amaechi alleged widespread voter disenfranchisement during the exercise and described the process as flawed and unacceptable.
Hayatu-Deen also questioned the credibility of the primary, citing reports of irregularities and vote manipulation.
The ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, defended the process, saying it provided a level playing ground for all aspirants.
He acknowledged that while the exercise was not perfect, party members were given the opportunity to freely choose their candidate.
The party said Atiku will now fly its flag in the 2027 presidential election as it seeks to mount a stronger challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
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