Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi don cast their votes for African Democratic Congress presidential primary election wey dey happen across Nigeria today.
Amaechi vote for Ward 5 for Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, alongside party members and supporters. Atiku also cast his vote earlier for Ajiya Ward for Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State.
The ADC dey conduct nationwide direct primary to select their candidate for 2027 presidential election. The exercise dey happen simultaneously across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards, using Option A4 voting method, where accredited party members dey queue openly behind their preferred aspirants.
The contest for ADC presidential ticket be among three aspirants wey party’s National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark clear. The contenders na Atiku, Amaechi, and economist and former PDP presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
After voting, Atiku write for X, “I joined other prospective voters of the African Democratic Congress in our party’s presidential primaries in casting my vote at the Ajiya Ward Polling Unit in Jimeta Yola, Adamawa State. This is democracy at work. The election taking place simultaneously in 8,809 wards in Nigeria is a major step in our quest to recover our beloved country and set it on the path of prosperity.”
Beyond presidential contest, ADC dey also conduct primaries for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives positions ahead of 2027 general election.
The exercise come amid internal disagreements within the party. Another group on Sunday announce dissolution of David Mark-led National Working Committee and declare Dumebi Kachikwu as their consensus presidential candidate for 2027 election.
Despite that development, the David Mark-led leadership remain the faction wey Independent National Electoral Commission official website recognize, and dem urge members to maintain order and unity during primary process.
Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress presidential primary election conclude yesterday with President Tinubu securing 10,999,162 votes, defeating Stanley Osifo to become party’s official candidate for 2027 presidential election.
The 2027 presidential election officially schedule to take place on February 20, 2027, as announced by Independent National Electoral Commission.
ADC chieftains don appeal for unity and discipline among party members ahead of the primaries. In statement by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urge presidential aspirants, delegates and party faithful to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly during exercise.
The appeal come after rival faction of ADC led by party’s 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu announce dissolution of David Mark-led National Working Committee and unveil Kachikwu as their sole presidential candidate. Kachikwu’s faction accuse Mark’s leadership of hijacking party structure and abandoning internal democracy.
Abdullahi describe the forthcoming primaries as defining democratic moment not only for ADC but also for Nigerians searching for credible political alternative. “The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” the statement say.
ADC say conduct of all participants before, during and after primaries go signal type of leadership culture the party seek to promote. “We therefore urge all aspirants, their supporters, delegates and party faithful to conduct themselves peacefully, responsibly and with dignity throughout the process. This election must reflect the values we claim to represent as a party committed to transparency, internal democracy, national unity and the rule of law,” the spokesperson state.
Abdullahi acknowledge that disagreements be inevitable in democratic contests but stress that larger objective of rebuilding Nigeria and restoring public confidence in leadership should remain paramount. “At the end of this exercise, there will be no winners or losers within the ADC family. The ultimate objective is to emerge stronger, more united and fully prepared to offer Nigerians the competent and credible leadership they deserve.”
He also assure members that measures don dey put in place to guarantee free, fair and credible primary process. “History will judge us, not merely by who emerges as candidate, but by how we conduct ourselves in this defining moment. We call on every member of our great party to rise to the occasion,” the statement add.
The ADC dey hold presidential primary election today across the country, for 8,809 wards and 774 local government areas. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of defunct FSB International Bank, dey contest for party’s presidential ticket.
The party dey proceed with primary after several attempts to adopt consensus candidate hit brick wall. Winner of contest go face President Bola Tinubu, APC standard-bearer for 2027 presidential election, and Peter Obi, consensus candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Hayatu-Deen don pledge to revamp economy, establish terrorism court, and reform intelligence coordination among security agencies if elected president in 2027. He say Nigeria’s security and economic crises dey interconnected, noting that insecurity don worsen poverty, food inflation and unemployment across country.
Hayatu-Deen be presidential aspirant of PDP for 2022 but step down from race days before primary. Amaechi, on his part, say ADC must field viable presidential candidate capable of defeating Tinubu for 2027 election. He urge party members to avoid ethnic and religious considerations in choosing party’s flagbearer, warning that such sentiments fit weaken efforts to build formidable coalition.
Amaechi also be presidential aspirant of APC for 2022 but lose ticket to Tinubu. Abubakar, who don pursue presidency since 1990s, say 2027 election go be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president. The ADC chieftain go be 80 years old by time of 2027 presidential election. Abubakar don contest for presidency six times and don appear on ballot as presidential candidate on three occasions – for 2007, 2019 and 2023. The former PDP presidential candidate defect to ADC for 2025.
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