Atiku, Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen hustle for ADC Presidential ticket

Di African Democratic Congress (ADC) go choose di presidential candidate wey go face President Bola Tinubu for di 2027 presidential election.

Party members across di 36 states of di federation plus di Federal Capital Territory dey expected to participate for di presidential primaries wey go hold on Monday, 25 May.

Di ADC screening committee wey former Cross River state govnor, Liyel Imoke head don clear three aspirants wey include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and ogbonge economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen for di primaries.

Di ADC leadership under dia interim National Chairman, David Mark, bin chose to go for open contest afta efforts to produce one consensus candidate among di leading aspirants fail.

Di party don ask di presidential aspirants, delegates and party members to maintain unity and discipline for today primary.

For statement wey Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC tok-tok pesin sign describe di presidential primary as ogbonge democratic moment, no be only for di party, but for Nigerians wey dey find credible political alternative.

"At di end of dis exercise, winners or losers no go dey within di ADC family. Di ultimate objective na to emerge stronger, more united, and fully prepared to offer Nigerians di competent and credible leadership dem deserve," e add.

Atiku Abubakar

Ahead of di primaries, one of di presidential aspirant ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, say di African Democratic Congress must present candidate wey dey competent and experienced, wey fit address Nigeria economic challenges and institutional decline.

For statement wey im Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu issue on Sunday, Atiku tok say di choice bifor di delegates of di ADC don pass politics, e describe am as historic responsibility.

"For time wen Nigeria dey bleed from evri area —crippled by economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional failure, and deepening hopelessness—di question bifor di ADC dey simple: who get di capacity not to only campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?

Di 80-year-old politician tok say Nigeria current challenges require tested leadership wit executive experience, economic understanding and national appeal.

"Nigeria today need president wey understand governance no be as theory, but as lived responsibility.

Di former vice president also say make ADC delegates prioritise competence ova sentiment as di party prepart for di 2027 general elections.

"At dis defining moment, ADC delegates must ask themselves a simple but profound question: we wan make statement, or we wan make President?

E add say while oda aspirants fit rely on rhetoric and slogans, im get di institutional memory and experience to lead effectively.

On experience, Oga Abubakar bin serve as di vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during di presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo.

Atiku Abubakar don run unsuccessfully for President of Nigeria six times, for 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.

E bin run for di Social Democratic Party presidential primaries for 1993, but e lost to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe.

For 2007, e be di presidential candidate of di Action Congress for di 2007 Presidential election but e lose to People's Democratic Party candidate Umaru Yar'Adua.

E contest di presidential primaries of di People's Democratic Party during di 2011 presidential election but e lose to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

For 2014, e join di All Progressives Congress ahead of di 2015 presidential election and contest for di presidential primaries, e lose to Muhammadu Buhari.

For 2017, e go back to di PDP and e be di party presidential candidate during di 2019 presidential election, again, e lose to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Di PDP choose am as di presidential candidate for 2022, for di 2023 general election, afta e defeat Nyesom Wike, di former govnor of Rivers State for di primaries. E lose di election to Bola Tinubu

For 2025, Abubakar comot di PDP to join di African Democratic Congress, wia e don express interest to run for presidency.

Rotimi Amaechi

Nigerians see former Rivers State govnor and Rotimi Amaechi as strong contender for today exercise, sake of im experience in politics.

Amaechi, bin serve as Minister of Transportation and bifor den don hold various political positions, wey include Speaker of di Rivers state house of assembly.

As minister of transport, e enta public eye wit im railway projects.

Amaechi na one of di founding members of di APC, and one of di influential figures during di Buhari administration.

For 2022, Amaechi bin express interest to contest for di 2023 presidential election. E lose to Bola Tinubu.

Now contesting under di ADC platform, 62-year-old Amaechi dey present imsef as credible alternative wey get di ability to restore public confidence in governance.

Afta im screening, Amaechi say make delegates vote for pesin wey fit beat di incumbent, pesin wey get experience, pesin wey fit deliver di vote

"Judge us by wetin we don do, if we don perform, whoever don do pass di oda, vote for di pesin."

E say im believe say im get most experience, im be di youngest plus di capacity to turn di kontri around in four years, sake of im achievements.

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen

Anoda aspirant wey don declare intention to run for presidency under di platform of di ADC and wey go show for di primaries na Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Hayatu-Deen na ogbonge economist, banker, investor, and corporate leader from Borno State wit ova 40 years experience in leadership across Nigeria public and private sectors.

For 2015, e bin head di Transition Committee on di Economy for President Buhari incoming administration.

For 2023, Hayatu-Deen bin buy di PDP presidential nomination forms but withdraw few days to di primary, as e allege say di process no pure. "Based on personal principles and wit great humility, I don decide afta wide consultations to withdraw from dis contest don dey heavily monetised," e bin announce at di time.

E bin dey complain about di process wey eventually produced Atiku as di party candidate.

ADC say Hayatu-Deen dey bring decades of experience in economic management, financial transformation, and national development.