The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cleared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to contest its presidential primary scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clearance follows the conclusion of the party’s screening exercise, which also approved 513 House of Representatives aspirants, 109 senatorial candidates and 80 governorship hopefuls for its nationwide primaries.
The ADC presidential primary will hold across 8,809 wards through a direct voting system, in line with the party’s guidelines and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable.
The screening committee was chaired by former Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, with Cyril Maduabum as secretary.
Other members included Lawal Batagarawa, Bode Ayorinde, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, David Salifu and retired Col. Abubakar Ali Ciroma.
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Party sources said efforts to secure a consensus candidate failed after all three aspirants declined to step down, forcing the party to proceed with a full-scale primary across the federation.
Amaechi, who appeared before the panel, ruled out any vice presidential ambition.
“I don’t want to be vice president. I made myself clear,” he said, while also reaffirming his stance on equal citizenship rights for Nigerians.
Hayatu-Deen said he would abide by the party’s final decision, without signalling any withdrawal.
The ADC primary is expected to be a key early opposition contest ahead of the 2027 elections.