Atiku meets Hayatu-Deen in Lagos amid ADC Reconciliation Efforts

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is holding a closed-door meeting with his rival, Hayatu-Deen, at his residence in Lagos. Sources described the meeting as part of ongoing efforts to reconcile aggrieved members following the party’s presidential primary. An interview session with Hayatu-Deen is expected after the meeting.

The meeting comes days after the ADC presidential primary, in which Atiku emerged as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 general election. Hayatu-Deen had contested the primary alongside Atiku and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. However, before the official announcement of the results, he announced his withdrawal from the process, citing allegations of widespread vote rigging. Expressing concern over reports of electoral irregularities across the country, Hayatu-Deen said he had personally witnessed some of the incidents.

“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,” Hayatu-Deen said. Despite his withdrawal, the party later announced the results of the primary, declaring Atiku the winner with 1,846,370 votes. Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, came second with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen polled 177,120 votes.

Amaechi also rejected the outcome of the exercise, describing the results as “concocted” and alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement during the primary.