By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
A former presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, says he will not be challenging the outcome of the party’s May 25, 2026, presidential primary.
He disclosed this in a post-primary statement released on Monday, June 1, titled ‘My Campaign, the Silent Majority and the Future of our Democracy.’
Hayatu-Deen had earlier alleged widespread irregularities and procedural breaches during the presidential election primary and boycotted the announcement of the election results.
He said, “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.
“How can the ADC criticise INEC for election interference and the falsification of results, and yet tolerate the same within its own house? I will therefore be taking advice on my next steps.”
Following the primary election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was declared the winner of the ADC presidential primary with 1,846,370 votes, followed by former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen came third with 177,120 votes.
In the statement released on Monday, Hayatu-Deen said he had chosen party unity and the broader goal of building a credible opposition over personal political ambition after consultations with supporters and stakeholders.
He said, “I have decided, after careful reflection and wide consultation, that I will not challenge the outcome in court. Nigeria urgently requires a strong, credible and united opposition. That objective must always remain larger than individual ambition or temporary political disappointment.”
Though the former presidential aspirant did not provide specific details of the alleged irregularities, he maintained that the conduct of the primary failed to meet his expectations, and he had privately communicated his concerns to the leadership of the party.
“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.
“I trust that those concerns will be reviewed in the spirit of continuous improvement, because any party that aspires to lead Nigeria must first demonstrate democratic discipline and integrity within its own walls,” he added.
Hayatu-Deen noted that he joined the ADC and contested the party’s presidential ticket with the belief that the party could offer Nigerians a different political culture anchored on integrity, ideology and internal democracy.
“I joined the ADC because I sincerely believed that the party represented an opportunity to build something different — a credible opposition movement anchored on a robust ideology, integrity, internal democracy and national renewal,” he said.
He added that throughout the campaign, he interacted with Nigerians across the country, which convinced him that many citizens still yearn for competent and principled leadership despite growing public frustration with the political class.
Hayatu-deen described this constituency as Nigeria’s “silent majority” — citizens who may not dominate public discourse but remain committed to the ideals of fairness, accountability and good governance.
He said, “These are 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.
“Nigerians who still believe that leadership matters. Nigerians who still believe that integrity matters. Nigerians who are not asking for perfection, but who long for a high quality of life, a safer and more secure society, fairness, equity, competence and compassion in governance.”
Despite his disappointment with the outcome of the primary, Hayatu-Deen urged his supporters not to abandon the underlying values of his campaign.
“What I will carry forward from this campaign is not bitterness, but gratitude,” he said, thanking volunteers, donors, party members, and supporters across the country.
He also called on Nigerians not to lose faith in the country’s democratic future.
“Please do not stop believing. Do not surrender your hope to cynicism. Do not accept dysfunction as normal. And do not stop believing in the possibility of a better nation.”
The former presidential aspirant noted that although his presidential campaign had ended, the broader struggle for national renewal remained unfinished.
“This campaign may have come to an end, but the larger task of building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Nigeria continues. And that cause remains worthy of our collective effort.”
