JUST IN: Atiku wins ADC presidential primary

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has secured the presidential ticket for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a closely watched primary election. Abubakar emerged victorious after a direct voting process held across the country, defeating prominent contenders Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

The final collation of results, which concluded on Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, saw Abubakar garner a substantial 1,846,370 votes. Amaechi trailed significantly with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes. The returning officer, Tunde Ogbeha, officially declared Abubakar the winner after the results from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were tallied.

Despite the declaration, the primary election was marred by allegations of irregularities from some of the losing candidates. Both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the process before the final collation began, citing widespread voter disenfranchisement and manipulation. Amaechi described the results as "concocted," while Hayatu-Deen accused party officials of rigging and compromising the election's credibility.

This victory marks Abubakar's latest presidential bid, having previously contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 general elections. His win positions him as the ADC's candidate for the upcoming 2027 general election, setting the stage for another national contest.