Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has continued efforts to unite members of the party following its contentious presidential primary, holding a closed-door meeting with fellow aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in Lagos.
The meeting, which took place at Atiku’s residence, is widely seen as part of an ongoing reconciliation process aimed at addressing grievances that emerged after the party’s presidential nomination exercise.
Sources familiar with the discussions described the engagement as a crucial step towards rebuilding trust among party stakeholders and strengthening internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general election.
An interview session involving Hayatu-Deen was expected after the private meeting, although details of their discussions were not immediately disclosed.
The talks come only days after the ADC presidential primary, which produced Atiku as the party’s standard-bearer for the next presidential election.
Hayatu-Deen had contested alongside former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in a race that later generated controversy and accusations of irregularities.
Before the final declaration of results, Hayatu-Deen announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing what he described as widespread manipulation of the voting process.
The former presidential aspirant expressed concern over reports of electoral misconduct from various parts of the country, stating that he personally witnessed some of the alleged irregularities.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today.
”I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” Hayatu-Deen said.
Despite his withdrawal, party officials proceeded with the announcement of the results.
According to the final tally released by the party, Atiku secured victory with 1,846,370 votes to emerge as the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi finished second with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen recorded 177,120 votes.
The outcome, however, did little to calm tensions within the party.
Amaechi also rejected the results, describing them as fabricated and alleging that many eligible participants were denied the opportunity to vote during the primary.
His criticism further intensified concerns over unity within the opposition party at a time when it is positioning itself as a major challenger in the next presidential election.
Since clinching the party’s ticket, Atiku has embarked on a series of consultations aimed at reconciling aggrieved aspirants and consolidating support across the ADC.
Political observers view the meetings as part of a broader strategy to prevent internal divisions from weakening the party ahead of the 2027 campaign season.
Prior to meeting Hayatu-Deen, Atiku had already visited Amaechi in an effort to mend relations and promote unity within the party.
Following that meeting, the former vice president revealed that their discussions extended beyond party politics and focused on issues affecting Nigerians.
According to Atiku, they engaged in extensive conversations about the nation’s worsening economic challenges, insecurity, and the need for patriotic leaders to contribute to efforts aimed at reversing the country’s difficulties.
The discussions centred on “the troubling state of the nation, the growing economic pain, insecurity, and the urgent responsibility on patriotic Nigerians to continue engaging in the search for solutions that can rescue our country from drift and despair,” he said.
Amid the controversy surrounding the primary election, ADC National Chairman David Mark has defended the conduct of the exercise.
While acknowledging that the process was not entirely flawless, the former Senate President insisted that the election was conducted fairly and reflected the will of party members.
Mark noted that all aspirants who participated in the contest possessed the credentials and experience required to lead the party, but stressed that only one individual could eventually emerge as its presidential candidate.
His remarks appeared aimed at calming tensions and encouraging disappointed contestants to remain committed to the party’s broader objectives.
Atiku and Amaechi joined the ADC in July 2025 as part of a major political realignment involving several opposition figures seeking to build a formidable platform ahead of the next general election.
The coalition movement was largely driven by efforts to present a united opposition front capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
With reconciliation efforts now underway, party leaders hope the post-primary disputes can be resolved quickly, allowing the ADC to focus on building momentum and strengthening its position ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential race.
The outcome of Atiku’s engagements with both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen is likely to play a significant role in determining the party’s unity and electoral readiness in the months ahead.
