The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has screened former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, ahead of the party’s 2027 presidential primaries.
The closed-door screening exercise took place at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and was conducted by a panel chaired by former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke.
The presidential screening exercise, marked a significant milestone in the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Mohammed Hayatu-Deen arrived first and spent about one hour before the screening panel, while Atiku Abubakar arrived later for his session.
Mohammed Hayatu-Deen
Speaking in a widely circulated video extract after his screening, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, pledged to run a disciplined, people-centred campaign if he emerges as the party’s candidate.
He described the screening exercise, which he said lasted about one hour, as seamless, thorough and professionally conducted by members of the party’s screening committee.
“I was screened by the panel established by the party after submitting my completed nomination forms to the national secretariat in line with requirements,” he said.
Mr Hayatu-Deen said that the party would determine whether candidates would emerge through consensus arrangements or direct primaries.
While expressing his readiness to participate in either process, the presidential aspirant said he remained committed to the party’s internal democratic procedures and to the constitutional provisions governing the primaries.
“If I emerge as the party’s nominee, I pledge Nigerians a disciplined and focused campaign that addresses their aspirations at this difficult national moment,” he stated.
Mr Hayatu-Deen identified insecurity, unemployment, high living costs, poor infrastructure, inadequate electricity supply and deteriorating educational and healthcare institutions as priority challenges requiring urgent attention.
According to him, tackling the nation’s socio-economic difficulties would form the central focus of his campaign agenda, alongside other programmes aimed at achieving national development and economic revival.
Responding to questions on the screening duration, Mr Hayatu-Deen said that extensive documentation submitted by aspirants required careful verification and scrutiny by members of the screening committee.
He said members of the screening members also asked questions relating to the party’s constitution, manifesto, governance issues and requirements necessary for effective national leadership and administration.
On the possibility of a consensus arrangement, Mr Hayatu-Deen said he would abide by any decision reached by the party, in accordance with its code of ethics.
“As a loyal party member, I have signed the code of ethics and will support whichever mode of primaries the party adopts,” he stated.
Asked whether he would step down if requested by the party, Mr Hayatu-Deen declined to make detailed comments, saying that such discussions were internal matters best handled privately.
Speaking on his preparedness for direct primaries, he said he had carefully prepared for the race and remained confident of emerging victorious if delegates voted directly.
“You do not enter a process like this without preparation because your credibility, reputation and supporters’ confidence are all at stake,” he said.
The presidential aspirant also pledged to assemble competent professionals from across Nigeria if elected president.
He said that merit, capacity and national representation would guide appointments into government positions.
According to Mr Hayatu-Deen, Nigeria possesses abundant human resources and will appoint “the best and brightest” individuals to cabinet positions and ministries, departments, and
Atiku Abubakar, after his screening, simply told journalists that the exercise “went well.”
The former Vice President however presented what he termed an economic rescue blueprint and security action plan focused on job creation, fiscal discipline, investor confidence, and intelligence-driven security operations.
The blue print, which was later released in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku framed the exercise as more than a formality it was an opportunity to present practical solutions to Nigeria’s intertwined crises of economic stagnation, unemployment, institutional decay, and widespread insecurity.
Key pillars of Atiku’s plan reportedly include:
Job Creation and Private Sector-Led Growth: Emphasis on expanding the private sector through incentives, reduced bureaucratic hurdles, and policies to unlock investment.
Fiscal Discipline and Macroeconomic Stability: Measures to restore investor confidence, stabilize the economy, and address fiscal imbalances.
Targeted Interventions: Proposals such as a potential $10 billion economic stimulus fund for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aimed at broad-based, competitive growth with ambitions to significantly boost GDP.
Security Reforms: A comprehensive action plan to tackle terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and other threats that have left citizens vulnerable.
Atiku described his vision as transcending party lines, positioning it as an urgent pathway to rescue Nigeria from current hardships.
He has consistently highlighted experience and coalition-building as strengths, though the party faces challenges in unifying behind a single candidate.
Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi
Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was also screened and speaking to the media after the exercise, he said that his record as Rivers State governor would speak For Him In 2027 Presidential Race, if he gets the ticket.
The former Minister of Transportation said he was confident Nigerians would judge him based on his record in office, particularly his years as governor of Rivers State.
“My tenure as governor will campaign for me,” Amaechi told journalists shortly after the exercise.
He also dismissed suggestions that he entered the race to negotiate for a vice-presidential slot, insisting that he purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the presidency.
“I did not buy the form to be anybody’s deputy,” he stated, even as he further blamed the country’s worsening insecurity on systemic failure and widespread youth unemployment, arguing that the political leadership had failed to address the social and economic conditions fuelling crime and violence.
He promised to confront insecurity decisively if elected president and on the possibility of a consensus arrangement within the party, Amaechi said he would accept the outcome provided all aspirants were carried along in a transparent and inclusive process.
“If that is the party’s decision, and it is a process all of us participated in, then why not?” he said.
The screening proceeded despite an earlier postponement linked to these dynamics and security concerns in parts of the north
Party Chairman Senator David Mark has called for unity to mount a credible challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, reports of deadlock over consensus, walkouts, and competing ambitions particularly between northern and southern interests have raised questions about cohesion.
The screening was chaired by former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke and though no cleared list has been officially released yet, the committee reportedly cleared major aspirants including Atiku, Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, paving the way for them to fully participate in the party’s primaries scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026