Hayatu-Deen declines to contest Atiku's selection as ADC's presidential nominee

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, the former presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, has opted not to contest the results of the party's May 25, 2026 presidential primary in court, despite his earlier claims of widespread irregularities and procedural flaws during the exercise.

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Hayatu-Deen's decision was revealed in a statement titled "My campaign, the silent majority and the future of our democracy," which he released on Monday, stating that he prioritized party unity and the goal of establishing a credible opposition movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the winner of the ADC presidential primary with 1,846,370 votes, while former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi secured the second position with 504,117 votes, and Hayatu-Deen came in third with 177,120 votes.

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Following consultations with his supporters and stakeholders, Hayatu-Deen chose to abandon his initial plan to challenge the outcome, saying "I have decided, after careful reflection and wide consultation, that I will not challenge the outcome in court.

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Nigeria urgently requires a strong, credible and united opposition, Hayatu-Deen emphasized, adding that this objective must always take precedence over individual ambition or temporary political disappointment.

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Although Hayatu-Deen did not provide specific details about the alleged irregularities, he maintained that certain aspects of the primary process fell short of his expectations, and he had privately conveyed his concerns to the party leadership.

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He stated, "The outcome of the May 25 primary did not fully meet my expectations, and I have communicated my deep concerns about certain processes and procedural matters directly and privately to the leadership of the party."

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Hayatu-Deen expressed his trust that the party leadership would review his concerns in the spirit of continuous improvement, emphasizing that any party seeking to lead Nigeria must first demonstrate democratic discipline and integrity within its own ranks.

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Reflecting on his decision to join the ADC after previously contesting for the presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022, Hayatu-Deen said he was drawn to the party's promise of a different political culture.

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He noted that his campaign engagements across the country reinforced his belief that many Nigerians still desire principled and competent leadership despite growing disillusionment with the political class, describing these citizens as Nigeria's "silent majority."

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Hayatu-Deen described the "silent majority" as Nigerians who may not always dominate public discourse or social media conversations, but who carry within them a quiet and enduring hope for a better country.

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He characterized these individuals as those who still believe that leadership matters, integrity matters, and who long for a high quality of life, a safer and more secure society, fairness, equity, competence, and compassion in governance.

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Hayatu-Deen urged his supporters not to abandon the values that inspired his campaign, insisting that he harboured no bitterness over the outcome of the contest, saying "What I will carry forward from this campaign is not bitterness, but gratitude."

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He expressed his gratitude to volunteers, donors, party members, and supporters across the country, and also appealed to Nigerians to remain optimistic about the nation's future, saying "Please do not stop believing."

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Hayatu-Deen concluded by stressing that although his presidential bid had ended, the pursuit of national transformation must continue, saying "This campaign may have come to an end, but the larger task of building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Nigeria continues."