Atiku Abubakar Wins ADC Primary Amid Rigging Allegations

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar won the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary for the 2027 general election, securing 1,846,370 votes. He defeated former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who polled between 504,117 and 540,117 votes, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who received 177,120 votes. The primary took place across 8,809 wards on May 25, with final collation and the flag presentation occurring on May 28 at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

The victory was immediately contested. Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the outcome, alleging widespread vote-buying, rigging, and the disenfranchisement of roughly 80 percent of party members. ADC chieftain Ibrahim Garba Wala supported these claims, describing the primary as a sham auction where results were manipulated in hotel rooms. In response, the ADC announced it would activate internal dispute mechanisms to review the grievances.

Following the announcement, Abubakar made conciliatory gestures, including a birthday visit to Amaechi in Abuja to discuss national insecurity and economic crisis. However, the party remains fractured. Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal questioned Abubakar's suitability for the presidency, and the party is still reeling from the recent exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to form the National Democratic Congress. Abubakar has since challenged President Bola Tinubu to vacate the Presidential Villa after the 2027 elections, claiming the ruling APC has strangled Nigerian democracy.