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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Atiku holds closed-door talks with Hayatu-Deen

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met with his rival Hayatu-Deen in Lagos for reconciliation talks following the party's presidential primary.
  • The meeting aims to unite the party after some aspirants, including Hayatu-Deen and Rotimi Amaechi, disputed the primary's outcome.
  • Abubakar has appealed to aggrieved aspirants to rejoin the party and work together for the upcoming general election.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar held a closed-door meeting with his rival, Hayatu-Deen, at his Lagos residence, signaling an effort to reconcile following the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.

I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us.

— Atiku AbubakarAbubakar's appeal to disgruntled party members after winning the presidential primary.

The meeting, reported by Channels Television, comes days after Abubakar emerged as the ADC's presidential candidate. The primary saw discontent among some aspirants, with former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen alleging manipulation of the voting process and rejecting the outcome. Hayatu-Deen had previously stated he would not attend the results announcement.

Following his victory, Abubakar appealed to aggrieved aspirants and party members to set aside the contest and unite for the party's benefit in the general election. "I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us," Abubakar said.

In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country.

— Atiku AbubakarAbubakar's direct invitation to his rivals to join his campaign.

He specifically invited Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to join his campaign to "save our democracy and our country." Abubakar stressed that internal contests should not create permanent divisions within the party, stating, "As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership, and I am ready to lead."

As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership, and I am ready to lead.

— Atiku AbubakarAbubakar's statement on the nature of internal party contests.

This reconciliation effort follows Abubakar's recent visit to Rotimi Amaechi at his Abuja residence, another move aimed at consolidating party support ahead of the election. Abubakar pledged to work with all aspirants and stakeholders to strengthen the ADC and build a country that serves everyone.

I will campaign with you and if Nigeria’s leaders demand it, govern with you to build a country that works for all of us.

— Atiku AbubakarAbubakar's pledge to work with others if elected.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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