- Boycotts result announcement
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – One of only three major aspirants seeking the Presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has pulled out of the race, citing severe irregularities in the primary process.
Announcing that he would no longer participate in the next stage of the exercise, Hayatu-Deen said reports of widespread vote rigging and other irregularities from different parts of the country had raised serious doubts about the credibility of the exercise.
A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja quoted him as saying: “I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps”.
The escalating situation unfolded against the backdrop of a rigorous and highly competitive race for the ADC’s presidential ticket, characterized by a dynamic clash of political heavyweights involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and renowned economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
This worrying development comes on the heels of the coalition party actively defending its primary election as an unblemished, transparent process designed to reflect the true will of the electorate.
Already, political commentators are predicting that Hayatu-Deen’s choice to boycott the high-stakes result ceremony over allegations of widespread rigging may not only severely fracture the opposition coalition but also fuel a bitter internal crisis that could push contending forces into disarray ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the political landscape remains highly volatile, with growing fears that recent events may trigger mass party defections. Behind closed doors, knowledgeable insiders suggest that preparations for the official results are already finalized, and Atiku has taken an early lead according to the initial state returns.
