Having failed to reach a consensus in the choice of a flag bearer, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has scheduled its presidential primary election for Monday. The gladiators are former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi disclosed in a statement that 513 aspirants were cleared to contest the House of Representatives primary elections across the country.
According to the statement, 109 aspirants were cleared for the Senate primaries, while 80 governorship aspirants were also successfully screened and cleared.
Meanwhile, Hayatu-Deen has urged members to support credible leadership ahead of Monday’s presidential primary election.
Hayatu-Deen made the appeal on Saturday during the “MHD for ADC” North Central Townhall held in Abuja, describing the primary as decisive for Nigeria’s future direction.
He said the exercise should not be viewed merely as an internal party process, but as a historic opportunity to reposition Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The ADC primary is now only two days away. Monday is about determining whether the ADC is serious about rescuing Nigeria,” Hayatu-Deen said.
The aspirant said Nigerians were tired of failed leadership and recycled politics, insisting that the ADC must present a credible candidate capable of inspiring national confidence.
“I am not among the same old faces Nigerians have seen for decades. I bring credibility, integrity, calm leadership, and practical recovery plans,” he said.
Hayatu-Deen noted that insecurity, unemployment, displacement, and economic hardship had continued to devastate communities across Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, and other states in recent years.
According to him, attacks on farming communities remain both humanitarian and economic tragedies, warning that no nation prospers when its food-producing regions remain unsafe.
Drawing from personal experiences in Borno, Hayatu-Deen said security under his administration would become the government’s primary responsibility instead of a political campaign slogan.
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He said his sister was kidnapped and held captive for three years, stressing that insecurity must be addressed decisively through responsible and effective national leadership.
Hayatu-Deen also unveiled economic recovery plans focused on agro-processing zones, youth employment incentives, women empowerment, and restoring productivity across the North Central region.
The presidential aspirant defended the independence of political parties, saying recent court rulings rightly affirmed that INEC should not interfere with parties’ internal democratic processes.
“INEC’s responsibility is ensuring credible elections, fairness, and electoral integrity, not interfering in how political parties conduct their internal democratic activities,” he stated.
Hayatu-Deen said Nigeria’s democratic institutions must become truly independent, accountable, and credible to restore public trust and strengthen democratic governance across the federation.
He described Monday’s presidential primary election as a major test of the ADC’s seriousness and credibility before Nigerians seeking alternatives to the ruling government.
“Nigerians are watching carefully to see whether the ADC intends to become a serious national alternative or merely another platform for recycled politics,” Hayatu-Deen added.
He cautioned that failure to present a nationally competitive candidate could worsen economic hardship, insecurity, poverty, and hopelessness across the country in the coming years.
Hayatu-Deen appealed to delegates and stakeholders to support his aspiration and entrust him with the ADC presidential ticket during Monday’s primary election in Abuja.
“And so today, I ask for your support, your trust, and your vote to carry our great party’s presidential flag,” Hayatu-Deen told party members.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the North Central Townhall marked Hayatu-Deen’s final major engagement with stakeholders before the ADC presidential primary election.
NAN
