Hayatu-Deen Quits ADC Presidential Primaries Over Alleged Rigging,

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is leading the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, after 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 generated national attention ahead of the next electoral cycle, has Atiku, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen as contenders.
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 said to have won in Gombe, Abia, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, raising the hope that he could become the party’s presidential candidate if the trend continues.
In Gombe State, the Returning Officer, Prof. David Agbu, announced that Atiku got 139,334 votes. Amaechi came a distant second with 1,150 votes while Hayatu-Deen got 464 votes.
Atiku also won the poll in Abia State with 25,153 votes to defeat Amaechi who scored 18,339 votes. Hayatu-Deen polled 3,264 votes.
The former vice president also recorded another landslide victory in Ebonyi State. The results released by the ADC National Vice Chairman (Diaspora), Fred Onwe showed that Atiku got 15,300 votes, Amaechi got 2,200 votes while Hayatu-Deen got 200 votes.
The Sokoto results also re-affirmed Atiku’s preeminence in the early phases of the exercise. He got 68,823 votes while Amaechi had 292 votes and Hayatu-Deen, 319 votes.
The same trend was seen in Zamfara State where Atiku scored 60,500 votes. Hayatu-Deen received 436 votes and Amaechi 191 votes.
The current primary is seen as a key test of strength within the ADC as opposition parties continue realignments ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku has been the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 and 2023 elections and remains one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and a 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.
However, one of the three aspirants seeking the Presidential ticket of the ADC for the 2027 election, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has withdrawn from the ongoing process of the exercise, citing concerns over alleged irregularities.
“Widespread vote rigging reports from across the country have thrown serious doubt on the credibility of the process,” Hayatu-Deen said in a statement issued Tuesday.
I will not be attending today’s announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results. He said: “I am concerned at reports across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I saw myself, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps.”
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 venue in Abuja is fully set for the exercise.
Political analysts say the ADC primary is likely to affect coalition talks among opposition blocs seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
The final results are expected to be announced later by party officials 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 party’s National Chairman.
The party revealed this 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 the new National Chairman of the party.
“Omoyele Sowore has formally 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 signifies a major leadership transition for the AAC as the party ramps up preparations for the 2027 elections.
Sowore’s resignation came hours after he won the party’s presidential ticket with a unanimous endorsement of delegates and party leaders at the primaries held in the Federal Capital Territory.
Supporters and delegates from different states across the country cheered as the activist was presented with the party’s flag.
After accepting the nomination, Sowore said that the AAC was founded to build a “new Nigeria’’ devoid of corruption, insecurity and bad governance.
He praised the commitment of party members despite political pressure and economic hardship in the country.
Sowore also attacked the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing it of incompetence and attempting 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 membership.
APC can’t even boast of 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, accusing the party of manipulation of the party structure and rising violence within the party.
Seyi Makinde, Owoseni, who is a former Security Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, disclosed his decision in a statement on Tuesday via his X handle.
Owoseni said the recent developments in the party 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 stated.
He also sympathized with 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 commiserate deeply with the families of those who were gruesomely murdered in the attack. “I cannot imagine the fear, pain and uncertainty hanging over the day-to-day activities of the families of those still in captivity,” he said.
“Normally, the state’s security challenges should dominate public discourse at the moment,” he said.
He added, “I am aware that at this trying time, nothing should deserve discussion in the public space than how to find a solution to our security challenges.”
Owoseni said his withdrawal was due to alleged orchestrated moves within the party to frustrate his aspiration.
“However, in view of the responsibility 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.
“Developments within the party in the last twelve hours show organised plans to ensure that our governorship ambition through the platform of the Accord Party is not realised,” he said.
The ex-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 complete infiltration and manipulation of the party structure, particularly 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 employed as tools to destabilise the party to ensure that the whole process is stalemated,” he alleged.
Owoseni said the developments had forced him to step aside from the party.
“Having said the above and some other issues that will be disclosed in due course I am compelled to withdraw and step aside from the Accord Party,” he said.