Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the leading contender in the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite mounting allegations of irregularities and internal disputes threatening the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC conducted nationwide direct primaries on May 25, 2026, involving an estimated 1.66 million registered party members across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards.
The contest featured Atiku, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen as the party’s major presidential aspirants.
Early results from several states showed Atiku recording strong victories across parts of northern Nigeria, including massive vote margins in states such as Sokoto State and Gombe State.
Amaechi, however, reportedly secured victories in some southern areas, including parts of Ebonyi State, as competition intensified between the leading contenders.
The exercise soon became controversial after videos surfaced online showing questionable vote-counting procedures and sparse turnout in some polling units despite the announcement of large vote figures.
Amaechi openly rejected the emerging results, accusing party officials of widespread manipulation, voter suppression, and vote buying.
According to his camp, nearly 80 percent of party members were allegedly disenfranchised during the process, while some online videos appeared to show inflated or inconsistent vote announcements.
Hayatu-Deen’s camp also distanced itself from parts of the process, with reports indicating that the businessman boycotted aspects of the collation exercise amid concerns about transparency.
The growing disputes have cast uncertainty over the final outcome of the primaries, with no official winner formally declared as of the time of reporting.
Political analysts warn that the controversy could weaken the ADC’s attempt to position itself as a credible opposition alternative capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The crisis also deepens concerns about internal democracy and organizational stability within opposition parties seeking to capitalize on public frustration over insecurity and economic hardship.
Supporters of the ADC, however, insist that disagreements are part of democratic competition and expressed optimism that party leaders would eventually resolve the disputes through dialogue and reconciliation.
Observers say the coming days may prove crucial for determining whether the party can maintain cohesion or risk deeper factional divisions before the official campaign season begins.
