The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is holding its presidential primary election today across the country.
The exercise is taking place in 8,809 wards and 774 local government areas (LGAs).
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank, are contesting for the party’s presidential ticket.
The party is proceeding with the primary after several attempts to adopt a consensus candidate hit a brick wall.
The winner of the contest will face President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer for the 2027 presidential election, and Peter Obi, the consensus candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Hayatu-Deen has pledged to revamp the economy, establish a terrorism court, and reform intelligence coordination among security agencies if elected president in 2027.
He said Nigeria’s security and economic crises are interconnected, noting that insecurity has worsened poverty, food inflation and unemployment across the country.
Hayatu-Deen was a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2022 but stepped down from the race days before the primary.
Amaechi, on his part, said the ADC must field a viable presidential candidate capable of defeating Tinubu in the 2027 election.
He urged party members to avoid ethnic and religious considerations in choosing the party’s flagbearer, warning that such sentiments could weaken efforts to build a formidable coalition.
Amaechi was also a presidential aspirant of the APC in 2022 but lost the ticket to Tinubu.
Abubakar, who has pursued the presidency since the 1990s, said the 2027 election will be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president.
The ADC chieftain will be 80 years old by the time of the 2027 presidential election.
Abubakar has contested for the presidency six times and has appeared on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — in 2007, 2019 and 2023.
The former PDP presidential candidate defected to the ADC in 2025.
