African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday screened former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, ahead of its presidential primaries for the 2027 general election.
The screening exercise was held behind closed doors at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and conducted by a panel chaired by former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, with Cyril Maduabum serving as secretary.
Hayatu-Deen arrived at the venue around 10:50 a.m. and spent about one hour before the panel, while Atiku arrived later at about 12:06 p.m.
Speaking with journalists after his screening, Hayatu-Deen said the process went smoothly and expressed readiness for whichever mode of candidate selection the party eventually adopts.
“I spent approximately one hour in the room and it went very well. We are now at a very pivotal moment in the campaign process,” he said.
According to him, the party may either adopt a consensus arrangement or conduct direct primaries within a short timeframe.
“We’ll either undergo a consensus exercise or go into direct primaries within the short period of time that is available. I stand ready, able, and willing to go through that process,” he stated.
Hayatu-Deen also outlined his vision for the country if he eventually secures the party’s presidential ticket.
“I will like to pledge to the Nigerian people that I will wage a campaign that is disciplined, focused, and geared towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians,” he said.
He identified insecurity, rising living costs, unemployment, poor power supply, weak infrastructure, and challenges in the education and healthcare sectors as key national issues requiring urgent attention.
On his chances in a direct primary contest, Hayatu-Deen maintained that he was fully prepared for the process.
“You don’t go into this kind of thing without preparation. You put your credibility and your name on the line. It’s very expensive,” he added.
Shortly after Hayatu-Deen’s appearance, Atiku Abubakar entered the screening hall to meet with the panel members.
The former vice president, however, declined detailed comments after the exercise, simply telling reporters, “The screening went well.”
Atiku remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition politicians, having contested the presidency several times since 1993.
His bid for the ADC ticket comes amid ongoing political realignments and coalition discussions among opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was still being awaited at the venue for his screening as of the time the report was filed.
The African Democratic Congress is expected to conclude its screening process before deciding whether to adopt consensus candidacy or conduct direct primaries for its 2027 presidential race.
