Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has intensified efforts to foster unity within the party following a contentious presidential primary. On Sunday, Atiku held a crucial closed-door meeting with fellow presidential aspirant Hayatu-Deen at his Lagos residence. This meeting is part of a broader strategy aimed at healing divisions and reconciling aggrieved party members ahead of the 2027 general election, according to sources close to the discussions.

The reconciliation talks come in the wake of the ADC presidential primary, which controversially declared Atiku as the party’s flag bearer for the upcoming 2027 presidential election. Hayatu-Deen had contested this primary alongside Atiku and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. However, prior to the official announcement of the results, Hayatu-Deen withdrew from the race, citing serious allegations of widespread electoral malpractice. He expressed deep concern over reports of vote manipulation from various parts of the country, claiming to have personally witnessed some of these irregularities. "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 personally observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps," he stated at the time.

Despite Hayatu-Deen's withdrawal and allegations, the party proceeded to announce the primary results, declaring Atiku Abubakar the winner with a substantial 1,846,370 votes. Rotimi Amaechi secured the second position with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen, despite his earlier withdrawal, was credited with 177,120 votes. Amaechi also vehemently rejected the outcome of the primary, labeling the results as "concocted" and alleging significant voter disenfranchisement throughout the process.

Since emerging as the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has prioritized engaging with dissatisfied stakeholders to build a united front for the 2027 polls. His meeting with Hayatu-Deen follows earlier consultations he held with Rotimi Amaechi. Following his engagement with Amaechi, Atiku revealed that their discussions extended beyond party politics to focus on Nigeria’s pressing national challenges. These included the pervasive economic hardship, escalating insecurity, and the urgent need for collective action by patriotic Nigerians to address the country’s current state of "drift and despair."

In response to the mounting concerns regarding the conduct of the primary, ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, defended the exercise as free and fair. While acknowledging that the primary was not entirely without imperfections, he emphasized that all aspirants were qualified to lead the party, but ultimately, only one candidate could emerge as its presidential flag bearer.

The entry of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi into the ADC in July 2025, alongside several other prominent opposition figures, signifies a significant political realignment. This strategic move aims to consolidate forces and present a formidable challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the crucial 2027 general election, setting the stage for a competitive political landscape.