Hayatu-Deen Withdraws from ADC Primaries Amid Fresh Rigging Claims

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is leading the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, 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 drawn national attention ahead of the next electoral cycle, is being contested by Atiku, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
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.

He was allegedly victorious in Gombe, Abia, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, fueling the anticipation that he could emerge as the party’s presidential candidate if the pattern holds.
In Gombe State, results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. David Agbu showed that Atiku polled 139,334 votes. Amaechi came a distant second with 1,150 votes, while Hayatu-Deen got 464 votes.
Atiku also topped the poll in Abia State with 25,153 votes to beat Amaechi who got 18,339 votes. Hayatu-Deen got 3,264 votes.
The former vice president also scored another landslide victory in Ebonyi State. Results released by the ADC National Vice Chairman (Diaspora), Fred Onwe, showed that Atiku scored 15,300 votes, Amaechi polled 2,200 votes while Hayatu-Deen scored 200 votes.
The Sokoto results also reaffirmed Atiku’s preeminence in the early phases of the exercise. He poll 68,823 votes while Amaechi polled 292 votes and Hayatu-Deen, 319 votes.
A similar trend was observed in Zamfara State where Atiku scored 60,500 votes. Hayatu-Deen scored 436 votes and Amaechi 191 votes.
The current primary is seen as a major test of strength within the ADC as opposition parties continue realignments ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku remains one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics having been the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and 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 vying for the Presidential ticket of ADC for the 2027 election, has declared his withdrawal from the ongoing process of the exercise, citing concerns over alleged irregularities.
“Reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging have raised serious doubts about the credibility of the process,” Hayatu-Deen said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
I will not attend today’s announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results. “I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” he said.
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 Abuja venue is fully set for the exercise.
Political analysts say the ADC primary is likely to impact coalition talks among opposition blocs looking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Party officials are expected to announce the final results later after collating results 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 National Chairman of the party.
The party made this known 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 as the new National Chairman of the party.
“Omoyele Sowore has officially 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 marks a major leadership transition for the AAC as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.
Sowore’s resignation was hours after he secured the party’s presidential ticket through a unanimous endorsement by delegates and party leaders during the primaries held in the Federal Capital Territory.
The activist was presented with the party’s flag to cheers from supporters and delegates from different states across the country.
Sowore said after accepting the nomination that the AAC was founded to build a “new Nigeria’’ free of corruption, insecurity and bad governance.
He praised party members’ commitment despite political pressure and economic hardship in the country.
Sowore also attacked 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 members.
APC cannot boast of even 10,000 members, I can tell you that,” Sowore said.
In a related development, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, 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, who is a former Security Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, disclosed his decision in a statement on Tuesday via his X handle.
The recent developments in the party, Owoseni said, have made it difficult for his governorship ambition to thrive on the Accord platform.
“I come to you with a heavy but determined heart. I greet the good people of Oyo State, 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 feel terrible for the families of those who were murdered in 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.
“Ordinarily, the security challenges facing the state should dominate public discourse at the moment,” he said.
“I am not oblivious to the fact that in this difficult period, nothing should be worthy of discussion in the public space other than finding a solution to our security challenges,” he added.
Owoseni attributed his withdrawal to alleged orchestrated moves within the party to frustrate his aspiration.
“However, in view of the responsibility that 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.
“Ongoing developments within the party in the last twelve hours reveal organised plans to make sure our governorship ambition through the platform of the Accord Party is not realized,” he said.
The former police commissioner also 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 stop at nothing to ensure that perpetuity in government is maintained.
“Secondly, thuggery and violence are being used as instruments to destabilise the party to ensure that the whole process is stalemated,” he alleged.
The developments had made Owoseni to step aside from the party.
“In view of the above and some other issues that will be revealed in due course, I am obliged to withdraw and step aside from the Accord Party,” he said.