Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket.The former VP clinched the ticket during the ADC presidential primary election conducted on Wednesday.
KaNo —
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election.
The result was announced on Wednesday night at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
Atiku defeated former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the contest.
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
“Atiku 1,846,370, Amaechi 504,117, Hayatudeen 177,120. Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457. Total party membership for the election: 3,113,599,” the result reads
A breakdown of the results showed Atiku defeated Amaechi by 1,342,253 votes and Hayatu-Deen by 1,669,250 votes, while Amaechi also led Hayatu-Deen by 327,003 votes.
The African Democratic Congress commenced its presidential primary process on Monday, May 25, 2026, with party members across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory participating in the exercise.
The party had opted for the direct primary method after all three aspirants—Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen,declined calls to step down for a consensus candidate, while an affirmation process was initially considered before the direct primary was adopted in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
Speaking after his victory, Atiku Abubakar called on aggrieved aspirants and party members to close ranks, insisting that unity was necessary after the contest.
“I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us,” he said.
He also specifically appealed to his fellow contestants to join him in what he described as a broader national struggle.
“In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Anechi and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” Atiku said
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
Atiku stressed that the outcome should not divide the party, noting that internal competition should not produce winners and losers.
“As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership and I am ready to lead,” he said.
He added that he would work with other aspirants and stakeholders to build the party ahead of the general election.
“I shall work with you all to continue to build our party. I will campaign with you and if Nigeria’s leaders demand it, govern with you to build a country that works for all of us,” he added
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
However, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had earlier rejected the result, citing what they described as manipulation of the voting process, with Hayatu-Deen saying he would not attend the announcement of the result.
Atiku had earlier expressed appreciation to party leaders, delegates and members, saying he was “truly humbled and excited” to lead the party into the next elections.
He said the party had demonstrated internal democracy despite what he described as challenges facing opposition politics in the country.
“We constructed that while democracy is being strangled and squashed by the ruling party… democracy is alive and well in the African Democratic Congress,” he said.
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
Atiku also alleged wider political pressure on opposition figures, saying members were being harassed and intimidated, and warned against interference in party affairs.
He further urged unity within the party, stressing that the primaries should not be seen as a divisive exercise.
No one was defeated. No one. We are one party, and we all need to recognise the fierce urgency of the moment,” he said.
He added that the party must focus on winning the general election and addressing national challenges.
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
“We have to prepare and play hard to win the next general elections in order to begin the difficult process of rescuing our country and its long-suffering people,” he said
Atiku also outlined priorities for the party, including security, education, healthcare and economic reform, pledging to strengthen security agencies, expand education access and address economic hardship.
On the economy, he criticised current conditions, saying poverty had deepened and that borrowing and subsidy policies had worsened hardship for citizens.
Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Ticket
He also pledged investment in healthcare, including stronger primary healthcare systems and improved medical facilities to reduce medical tourism
Atiku said the ADC would present what he called “renewed action” ahead of the general election, stressing that the real work would begin after the primaries.
President Tinubu Emerges APC Presidential Candidate
President Bola Tinubu had also secured the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general election following a landslide victory in the party’s nationwide direct presidential primary held on Saturday, May 23, 2026.He was declared the winner of the primaries on Sunday.
The exercise was conducted across the country’s 8,809 wards in all 774 local government areas.
Tinubu’s only challenger in the race was APC chieftain and businessman Stanley Osifo from Edo State, who contested the primary.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Primaries Election Committee, Pius Anyim, read out the results at the collation centre domiciled in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Nigerians would elect a new President and members of both state and National Assemblies in January 2027, amidst hardship, insecurity and rising inflation ravaging the country.
