Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has established a strong early lead in the African Democratic Congress presidential primaries, with results from 11 states showing him comfortably ahead of rivals Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

The results place Atiku in a commanding position ahead of the party’s final collation for the 2027 presidential race, although the exercise has already sparked controversy within the party.

In states such as Zamfara, Gombe, Kebbi, Imo, and Yobe, Atiku recorded overwhelming victories, including 136,933 votes in Gombe and 65,523 in Kebbi. In Ekiti State, he polled 18,395 votes, defeating Amaechi’s 1,574 votes and Hayatu-Deen’s 149. Zamfara also delivered a landslide for the former vice president, with Atiku securing 60,500 votes out of 61,137 cast.

Results from the Federal Capital Territory, Oyo, Ondo, Nasarawa, Abia, and Anambra similarly showed Atiku maintaining a substantial advantage over his challengers.

However, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen have rejected the outcome of the primaries, alleging widespread irregularities, vote manipulation, and disenfranchisement of party members. Amaechi dismissed the results as lacking credibility and insisted he would only recognize a process that was free and transparent.

Hayatu-Deen also boycotted the official announcement of results, citing what he described as widespread vote rigging and manipulation across several states.

Responding to the allegations, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi stated that the party was still collating results and had not established sufficient evidence to confirm or dismiss the claims raised by the aggrieved aspirants.

He maintained that the party would continue reviewing reports from across the country before making any definitive pronouncement. Despite the growing controversy, the released figures firmly place Atiku at the forefront of the ADC’s race for the 2027 presidential ticket.