Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has clinched the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election after defeating former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and ex-banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in a fiercely contested nationwide primary.

The outcome was announced late Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja by returning officer Tunde Ogbeha, following accredited voting across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through the direct primary system adopted by the ADC.

According to the final figures released by the party, Atiku secured 1,855,787 votes. Amaechi came second with 509,397 votes, while Hayatu-Deen polled 180,903 votes. The total votes cast stood at 2,546,457, with total party membership for the exercise put at 3,113,599.

A breakdown of the results showed Atiku defeated Amaechi with a margin of 1,346,390 votes and led Hayatu-Deen by 1,674,884 votes, cementing his dominance in the contest. The ADC presidential primary began on Monday, May 25, 2026, amid pressure from stakeholders who pushed for a consensus arrangement to prevent internal divisions ahead of 2027.

However, Atiku, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen reportedly refused to step down for one another, forcing the party leadership to proceed with a full-scale primary election. Although some party leaders initially explored a consensus option, the ADC eventually settled for the direct primary model, insisting the process aligned with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the party’s commitment to internal democracy.

Atiku’s emergence is expected to significantly reshape political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election as opposition parties intensify moves to challenge the ruling party at the centre. The victory marks another presidential bid for the former vice president, who previously contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019 and 2023.

Meanwhile, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had earlier raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the process and boycotted the announcement of the results. Amaechi described the results as “concocted,” alleging massive voter disenfranchisement and manipulation, while Hayatu-Deen cited widespread vote rigging and manipulation.

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi urged both aspirants to seek redress through established party structures rather than public confrontation, stating there was no evidence to support claims that the primary was rigged.