Presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has firmly ruled out the zoning of the party's presidential ticket to any specific region of the country. He argued that such an arrangement undermines competence and capacity.
Hayatu-Deen speaks on competence and unity
The ADC chieftain emphasized that the current levels of insecurity, poverty, and dilapidated infrastructure across Nigeria demand a leader with the right mindset and workable solutions. He stressed that the party must present its best candidate to address these challenges.
Speaking with journalists at the ADC National Secretariat on Wednesday evening after submitting his nomination form, Hayatu-Deen stated: 'Concerning zoning, I think what is required here is competence and distinction in terms of one's ability to provide leadership to every single individual in this country. The 230 million people deserve a leader who is a unifier, not a divider; one who is competent, understands this country, its opportunities and problems, and also understands what the world is all about and Nigeria's place in it.'
Submission of nomination form
Hayatu-Deen described the process as smooth and efficient. 'It's a beautiful, smart and quick process. I came here to submit my completed nomination form for candidature for the office of the President of the Federal Republic under the aegis of the ADC. This is a remarkable day in the journey ahead of us, culminating in the presidential election of 2027.'
He added: 'Power truly belongs to the people, and what we are here to do is to give Nigerians a choice in terms of who their representatives will be for various elective offices in the country. The pinnacle of these offices is the presidency.'
Confidence in victory
The aspirant expressed full confidence in his preparedness for the election. 'I can tell you with full confidence that I am fully prepared to contest this election. I am certain of myself and very confident about the kind of campaign I will run. I am confident that I will win this campaign. That is why I am here. This is a journey, and I will not give up at this stage.'
Primaries and campaign focus
On the mode of primaries, Hayatu-Deen deferred to the party leadership, stating: 'As far as the model of primaries is concerned, it is firmly entrenched in the Electoral Act. The party leadership will decide the model that best suits the needs of the ADC in order for it to win this election convincingly.'
He highlighted the enormous challenges facing the country, including high inflation, rising cost of living, hunger, poverty, disease, poor healthcare, and insecurity. 'Children are out of school, health facilities are dilapidated, and insecurity has become overwhelming. If I am fortunate to secure the nomination and contest this election, I will run a campaign focused on alleviating poverty, tackling insecurity, reducing the cost of living, getting children back to school and improving the quality of life for all Nigerians.'
Competence over region
Hayatu-Deen concluded: 'Competence is critical at this point in time because anyone seeking the office of the President is doing so as a Nigerian, not because he comes from Borno, Imo or Anambra. Once you place your hand on the Quran or the Bible, you are taking an oath to serve all Nigerians, regardless of background.'
