Atiku meets Hayatu-Deen in Lagos amid ADC reconciliation moves

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with former rival Mohammed Hayatu-Deen at his Lagos residence as part of efforts to reconcile aggrieved members following the party’s presidential primary.

 

Sources familiar with the meeting said the engagement was aimed at fostering unity within the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

Hayatu-Deen is expected to brief journalists after the meeting.

 

The meeting comes days after the ADC presidential primary, which produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer. Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen were among the aspirants who contested the ticket.

 

Hayatu-Deen, however, withdrew from the race before the official declaration of results, citing alleged irregularities and vote manipulation during the exercise.

 

“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,” he said at the time.

 

Despite his withdrawal, the party proceeded with the announcement of results, declaring Atiku the winner with 1,846,370 votes. Amaechi polled 504,117 votes to finish second, while Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes.

 

Amaechi also rejected the outcome, describing the exercise as “concocted” and alleging widespread disenfranchisement of party members.

 

Since emerging as the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku has embarked on reconciliation efforts, including previous consultations with Amaechi aimed at addressing grievances and strengthening party cohesion.

 

Following an earlier meeting with Amaechi, Atiku said discussions focused on Nigeria’s economic challenges, insecurity and the need for collective action to address national issues.

 

ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, has defended the conduct of the primary, describing it as largely free and fair, while acknowledging minor challenges during the process.

 

He maintained that although all aspirants were qualified to lead the party, only one candidate could emerge as flag bearer.

 

Atiku and Amaechi joined the ADC in July 2025 alongside other opposition figures as part of a broader political coalition seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.