ABUJA, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress, ADC, began the process of selecting its 2027 presidential candidate on Sunday, with party members across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory heading to the polls to choose from three aspirants after attempts to produce a consensus candidate collapsed.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen all declined calls to step down, forcing the party to proceed with a direct primary — a method party leaders say is fully consistent with the Electoral Act 2026.
The ADC had initially weighed an affirmation process similar to that adopted by the Nigeria Democratic Congress before settling on the direct primary route.
The exercise unfolded against a backdrop of growing internal turbulence, with a rival faction of the party holding a separate convention in Abuja on Sunday and declaring Dumebi Kachikwu its sole presidential candidate.
Atiku: the frontrunner
Atiku enters the primary as the most recognisable name in the field, drawing on decades of political experience and a national network built across successive cycles of public life.
Since leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in November 2025, he has sought to position the ADC as the vehicle for a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, working alongside former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola — now serving as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
Figures said to be aligned with his camp include former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal.
A former PDP chieftain who recently defected to the ADC described him as the clear frontrunner, though he spoke on condition of anonymity given his proximity to the aspirants.
“When you compare his political profile with those of the other aspirants, it is clear he holds a significant advantage,” the source said.
“Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen are both familiar faces in national politics, but Atiku remains a formidable force that will be difficult for either of them to overcome.”
Critics, however, argue that having been active in partisan politics since 1992, Atiku should cede the field to a younger generation rather than seek another presidential nomination.
Amaechi: a southern candidacy
Amaechi is presenting himself as a credible alternative with a record of infrastructure delivery, most notably the railway corridors completed during his tenure as Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
A founding member of the APC, he left the ruling party to contest under the ADC banner.
A close associate made the case that zoning considerations strengthen his bid.
“If the presidency has remained in the South for four years and we agree that each region should complete eight years, then the party must put forward its strongest candidate. The South should retain the presidency, and Amaechi represents that option,” the associate said.
Political analysts caution, however, that it remains uncertain whether Amaechi can assemble sufficient nationwide support within the ADC to offset Atiku’s more deeply entrenched organisational structure.
Hayatu-Deen: the technocrat
Hayatu-Deen, a 72-year-old economist and former chief executive of FSB International Bank, has built his campaign around economic revival, youth employment and institutional reform, positioning himself as an alternative to what he has called “recycled politics.”
His candidacy received a formal boost on Sunday when ADC stakeholders in the South-West issued a statement endorsing him ahead of the primary.
Babajide Dosunmu, leader of the ADC South-West Professionals Forum, said Hayatu-Deen’s background in banking and public policy made him well suited to the country’s current challenges.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive, businesses are collapsing, young people are losing hope, and insecurity continues to threaten national stability, Nigeria needs a leader with proven competence, discipline, and a deep understanding of how economies function. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen possesses those qualities,” the statement read.
Observers note that despite the endorsement, Hayatu-Deen’s national political profile remains considerably lower than that of his two rivals.
A party divided
The primary proceeded amid an escalating factional dispute that threatens to overshadow the outcome.
The faction loyal to Kachikwu held what it described as a national convention in Abuja on Sunday, adopting him as its presidential candidate through a voice vote and simultaneously dissolving the existing National Working Committee, replacing it with a new set of officers.
Speaking after receiving the party’s flag, Kachikwu said Nigeria required a fundamental change in direction.
“The mass exodus of our middle class is indicative of those who have chosen not to be part of this hardship anymore,” he said.
The newly installed national chairman of the faction, Abdulkadir Bashir, urged members to respect the party’s constitution and called on those who had left to return. “No individual is bigger than the party,” he said.
The existence of two parallel primaries and competing sets of national officers raises the prospect of a prolonged legal dispute over which faction holds legitimate authority within the ADC as the 2027 election cycle gathers pace.
