The reported strong showing by Atiku Abubakar in the ongoing African Democratic Congress presidential primary is already generating intense political reactions, especially as the party battles a widening leadership crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to results announced from states including Zamfara, Yobe and Sokoto, Atiku has amassed over 160,000 votes, placing him far ahead of former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
In Zamfara State alone, Atiku reportedly secured 60,500 votes, while Hayatu-Deen polled 446 votes and Amaechi got 191 votes. Similar margins were recorded in Yobe and Sokoto, where Atiku dominated the exercise conducted across local government areas and wards.
However, the primary is unfolding amid a fierce internal battle over the authentic leadership structure of the ADC. The crisis deepened after legacy state chairmen challenged the control of the party leadership in court, alleging that loyalists aligned with Atiku and members of the opposition coalition unlawfully sidelined existing party structures.
The Federal High Court in Maitama had reportedly ruled that the legacy ADC state chairmen should conduct congresses and reorganize party structures in their respective states. Following that judgment, parallel congresses and conventions were held in several states, producing new leadership loyal to the old ADC bloc.
Political observers say the emerging dispute raises serious questions over the legitimacy of the ongoing presidential primary and whether the eventual outcome may face legal challenges before the 2027 elections.
While Atiku’s camp insists the exercise is being monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, critics within the party argue that the process lacks consensus and could further fracture the opposition coalition.
Amaechi’s victory in Ebonyi State, where he defeated both Atiku and Hayatu-Deen, has also fueled speculation that some southern blocs within the ADC may resist what they describe as an attempt to impose a northern consensus candidate ahead of the national convention.
Meanwhile, party stakeholders fear that the unresolved leadership tussle could weaken the ADC’s chances of presenting a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
As collation continues across more states, attention is now turning to whether the party can reconcile its internal divisions or slide deeper into a prolonged legal and political confrontation.
