ADC Begins Collation of Presidential Primary Results — Atiku Leads in Early Returns

Atiku Leads as ADC Begins Collation of Presidential Primary Results

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has started collating results from its presidential primary election held on Monday, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar leading in early returns from several states.

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi told reporters in Abuja on Monday that none of the three leading aspirants could confidently predict victory until all results are in. The party expects to announce its candidate on Tuesday.

The primary had 3.4 million registered members voting across 8,809 wards nationwide. Atiku, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen are the main contenders.

Atiku cast his vote at the Ajiya Ward Polling Unit in Jimeta, Adamawa State. On X, he described the exercise as “democracy at work,” calling it “a major step in our quest to recover our beloved country and set it on the path of prosperity.”

Amaechi voted in Ubima, Rivers State. He had earlier predicted Atiku would lose, questioning his electability. “The issue is that at all times that you have passed primary, you have not won election. So it’s about electability,” Amaechi said on Trust TV.

Abdullahi also took a swipe at the APC, accusing the ruling party of inflating its membership figures to “set the stage for the rigging of the 2027 election.”

The ADC has become a major opposition platform ahead of 2027, drawing prominent opposition figures. The party still has internal factional tensions, though Abdullahi dismissed a parallel faction’s candidate as insignificant, noting the Supreme Court has settled the leadership dispute.

Sources: Daily Trust, The Nation, Sahara Reporters