Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), securing 1,846,379 votes to defeat former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, who polled 540,117 votes.

Economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen finished third with 177,120 votes.

Returning officer Tunde Ogbeha declared Atiku winner, stating that he fulfilled the constitutional requirements of the ADC.

The party’s National Chairman, David Mark, subsequently presented the ADC flag to Atiku, officially confirming him as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election.

The outcome sets up another major presidential contest involving Atiku, incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peter Obi, now representing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in what is already shaping up to be another three-way race similar to the 2023 election.

Although other contenders from southern-based parties may still emerge, political observers believe the 2027 election is gradually tilting towards a three-horse contest.

In his acceptance speech, Atiku expressed appreciation to party members for entrusting him with the ADC ticket.

“I wish to express my profound appreciation for the privilege, which you have bestowed on me, of leading our great party, the African Democratic Congress, into the next elections as its presidential candidate. I am truly humbled and excited by this singular honour,” he said.

Atiku stated that the ADC primary demonstrated that democracy was still alive despite what he described as attempts by the ruling APC to weaken opposition politics.

“We demonstrated that while democracy is being strangled and squashed by the ruling party and its oppressive and anti-democratic government, democracy is alive and well in the African Democratic Congress,” he said.

“In our party, members are allowed to express their views, to have ambitions and to contest for elective positions in a free, fair and transparent process.

”He described the ADC coalition as one built through sacrifice, compromise and determination to rescue Nigeria’s democracy from what he termed its biggest threat since 1999.

According to him, opposition parties across the country are currently battling crises allegedly engineered by the APC government, INEC and some elements within the judiciary.

Atiku also accused the government of intimidating opposition figures, citing the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai despite court orders granting him bail.“He has been in detention for three months despite court orders granting him bail.

He has been denied the right to celebrate two important religious holidays with his family in addition to being denied the opportunity to be by his mother’s side as she took her last breath,” Atiku stated.

“All because he is a leading opposition figure! This kind of cruelty must stop.

”The former vice president further alleged that anti-corruption agencies were being used to pressure opposition politicians into joining the APC.

“Under this government, once a person joins the APC, the harassment ceases and the charges against them magically disappear. This abuse of power must stop,” he said.

Atiku warned against what he described as attempts by the Presidency, INEC and the judiciary to interfere in ADC affairs, vowing that such actions would be resisted.

He congratulated Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen for participating in the primary and urged all aspirants to unite ahead of the general election.

“This is not the time to celebrate. No one was defeated because we are one party and we all need to recognise the fierce urgency of the moment,” he said.

“We have to unite, as we pledged before this process, to work to pull our country and our people out of the destructive grip of a corrupt, incompetent and polarising APC government.

”Atiku said Nigeria was currently battling economic hardship, insecurity, political intolerance and institutional decline, insisting that an ADC government under his leadership would address those issues.

Speaking on insecurity, he said all regions of the country were currently affected and accused the government of failing to take decisive action.

“Our people are being slaughtered in large numbers and the government has failed to take decisive and effective action to stop it and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

He promised to strengthen the armed forces and other security agencies through recruitment, improved welfare, training and modern equipment.

On education, Atiku criticised the rising number of out-of-school children, promising free and compulsory primary and secondary education if elected.

“We shall embark on a holistic revival of our educational system by ensuring that staffing, buildings and all infrastructures are in place to make Nigerian youths competitive again,” he stated.

Addressing the economy, Atiku accused the APC administration of worsening poverty and economic hardship despite claims of growth.

“The poverty gripping our people is at a level that we have never seen in our history,” he said.

He also criticised the handling of fuel subsidy savings and rising borrowing under the current administration.

“External borrowing alone has reached 30 billion dollars in the last three years,” Atiku claimed.

“The future of our younger generation is being mortgaged with no accountability.”

On healthcare, he faulted the federal government’s budgetary allocation to the health sector and pledged increased investment in primary healthcare and specialist medical centres across the country.

“In the face of glaring healthcare challenges facing the country, we learned recently that the Federal Ministry of Health received only 30 million naira for capital expenditure in the preceding fiscal year,” he said.

Atiku concluded by urging aggrieved party members and other aspirants to close ranks and work together ahead of the 2027 election.

“In particular, I invite Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” he said.

“As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers.”