Atiku, Hayatu-Deen, Amaechi
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) conducted its presidential primary election on Monday, May 25, 2026, through a nationwide direct primary across thousands of wards.
The contest featured three main aspirants: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor and Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
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Following the exercise, collation of results began, with Atiku Abubakar emerging as the clear frontrunner in most states reported so far.
The former Vice President secured landslide victories in several Northern states, reflecting strong support in the region.
In Zamfara State, Atiku polled approximately 60,500 votes, far ahead of Amaechi (191 votes) and Hayatu-Deen (446 votes). He was also declared the winner in Yobe State with 44,841 votes. Similar dominant performances were recorded in Sokoto, where Atiku garnered 68,823 votes out of over 69,000 cast.
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Atiku also led strongly in states like Adamawa, Kaduna, Edo, Enugu, and Nasarawa as results continued to trickle in. However, Rotimi Amaechi recorded a notable win in Ebonyi State, polling 6,050 votes to defeat Hayatu-Deen (4,840) and Atiku (1,210).
The direct primary followed failed attempts to produce a consensus candidate among the three aspirants. Party leaders described the process as transparent and in line with electoral guidelines, though some reports highlighted isolated incidents and allegations of irregularities in certain areas.
As of the latest updates on May 26, 2026, national collation is still ongoing, and no official overall winner has been declared by the ADC national leadership. Party insiders expect the final results to be announced soon after full compilation.
Political observers note that Atiku’s strong showing positions him as the likely presidential flag bearer for the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, where the party aims to provide a formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This primary marks a significant step for the ADC in consolidating its structure and presenting a unified front, despite reports of internal factional tensions within the party. Further updates will follow as more results are collated and authenticated.
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