The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the winner of its presidential primary election in Yobe State, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerging victorious. The election, held in Damaturu, the state capital, was conducted peacefully and in accordance with party guidelines, according to officials.
Atiku Abubakar Wins ADC Presidential Primary in Yobe
Atiku Abubakar secured 44,841 votes in the Yobe State primary, defeating two other aspirants: former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who received 300 votes, and Muhammad Hayatuddeen, who polled 365 votes. The results were announced by the Chairperson of the Electoral Committee and State Primary Election Returning Officer, Hajiya Ma’am Kyari, at the party secretariat in Damaturu on Monday, May 26, 2026.
Kyari declared: “Having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, H.E. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, is hereby declared the winner of the ADC presidential primary election in Yobe State.” She noted that the exercise was conducted peacefully and in line with the party’s guidelines, commending ADC members, officials, and security agencies for ensuring order.
Reactions to the Primary Election
The Yobe State ADC governorship candidate, Kassim Geidam, described the primary as peaceful, successful, and encouraging. He expressed satisfaction with the level of participation and cooperation demonstrated by party supporters across Zones A, B, and C. Atiku, who voted in the primary in Adamawa State, viewed the process as democracy in action and expressed optimism about the 2027 general elections.
The nationwide ADC primary aims to select a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Atiku’s victory in Yobe follows his earlier win in Sokoto State, where he secured 68,823 votes, while Amaechi and Hayatuddeen received 292 and 319 votes, respectively. A total of 69,434 votes were cast in the Sokoto primary.
Atiku's Vision for 2027
Atiku has urged the ADC to select a competent and nationally appealing presidential candidate for 2027, emphasizing the need for experience to rescue Nigeria from economic collapse and institutional decay. He warned against sentiment-driven choices, advocating strategic thinking to defeat the incumbent president. The ADC primaries across states are part of the party's broader effort to build momentum for the upcoming election cycle.
