ADC Presidential Primary Collation Kicks Off in Abuja
Returning officers for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary have begun arriving at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Their purpose is to collate and declare the results of the internal election that will determine the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 general election.
Party officials anticipate concluding the collation process later on Tuesday, after which the winner of the ADC presidential ticket will be announced. The three contenders vying for the nomination are former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor and ex‑Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The primary has attracted considerable attention from opposition circles, as parties begin early positioning and explore potential coalitions ahead of the 2027 general election. Although there were earlier speculations about a possible consensus arrangement among the aspirants, all three candidates rejected calls to step down and opted to let the ballot decide their popularity.
At the venue, returning officers from Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Kebbi states have already arrived to submit and present their state results. Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are also expected to monitor the exercise to ensure transparency.
Approximately twenty seats have been reserved inside the collation hall for electoral observers and INEC representatives. The atmosphere at the Transcorp Hilton has remained calm, with party officials, delegates, journalists, and security personnel moving in and out of the conference area ahead of the formal declaration.
Observers describe the contest as one of the biggest internal elections in the ADC’s recent history. Its outcome is expected to influence the party’s strategy for the 2027 presidential election and its role within the evolving opposition landscape.
The collation process is taking place amid concerns over alleged irregularities in certain areas. Aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has announced that he will boycott the final declaration ceremony, citing reports of widespread vote rigging. Despite these claims, party leaders maintain that the process remains credible and transparent, with final collation expected to continue throughout the day.
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