Atiku Secures ADC Presidential Ticket as Opposition Race for 2027 Intensifies

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the conclusion of the party’s presidential primary election on Wednesday night.

The results were announced by the Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primary Election Committee and returning officer, Tunde Ogbeha, after votes cast by delegates across the country were collated and verified.

According to the official figures released by the committee, Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes to clinch the party’s ticket in a decisive victory over his challengers.

Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, came second with 504,117 votes, while former Managing Director of the defunct FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, polled 177,120 votes.

The outcome cements Atiku’s position as the standard bearer of the ADC ahead of the 2027 presidential election and signals a significant moment in Nigeria’s evolving opposition politics.

The former vice-president, who has remained one of Nigeria’s most prominent political figures for more than two decades, is expected to immediately begin consultations aimed at consolidating alliances within the party and broadening support ahead of the national campaign season.

Political observers say the primary election reflects growing realignments within the opposition space as parties reposition themselves to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Atiku’s emergence is also likely to intensify political calculations across major parties, particularly given the increasing movement of influential political actors ahead of the elections.

Although the primary was keenly contested, party officials described the process as peaceful and transparent, insisting that the exercise demonstrated the ADC’s commitment to internal democracy and credible leadership selection.

Supporters of the former vice-president celebrated the outcome shortly after the announcement, describing the victory as a major step toward building a broader national coalition capable of contesting power at the federal level.

The ADC leadership is expected to begin reconciliation efforts in the coming days to unite supporters of all aspirants and strengthen party cohesion ahead of the general election campaign.