Hayatu-Deen accepts ADC primaries result after meeting with Atiku, rules out court challenge

Presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has accepted the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries and announced that he will not challenge the result in court despite raising concerns about the conduct of the election.

Hayatu-Deen made this known via a statement issued on Monday, June 1, 2026.

This comes barely a few hours after Hayatu-Deen met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the winner of the primary election, at his residence in Lagos on Sunday.

He stated that he had communicated his reservations about certain aspects of the May 25 primary process to the ADC leadership but had decided against pursuing legal action in the interest of opposition unity.

The former presidential hopeful said Nigeria urgently needs a strong, credible and united opposition, stressing that the broader national interest should take precedence over personal political ambitions.

Hayatu-Deen had earlier declined to attend the announcement of the primary results, citing reports of alleged vote manipulation and procedural irregularities.

However, in his latest statement, he said his focus was now on strengthening democratic values and supporting efforts to build a viable opposition platform.

He stated: “The outcome of the May 25 primary did not fully meet my expectations, and I have communicated my deep concerns about certain processes and procedural matters directly and privately to the leadership of the party.

“I trust that those concerns will be reviewed in the spirit of continuous improvement, because any party that aspires to lead Nigeria must first demonstrate democratic discipline and integrity within its own walls.

“I have decided, after careful reflection and wide consultation, that I will not challenge the outcome in court. Nigeria urgently requires a strong, credible, and united opposition. That objective must always remain larger than individual ambition or temporary political disappointment.”

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Reflecting on his campaign, Hayatu-Deen expressed gratitude to party members, volunteers, donors, and supporters across Nigeria who backed his bid for the ADC ticket.

He described his supporters as part of a “silent majority” of Nigerians who continue to believe in integrity, competence, fairness and selfless leadership despite growing public disillusionment with politics.

“What I will carry forward from this campaign is not bitterness, but gratitude. Gratitude to every Nigerian who believed in this movement. To the young people who volunteered their time and energy. To the women who organised tirelessly across communities. To our coordinators, supporters, donors, professionals, students, artisans, and party faithful across the federation, thank you,” he added.

Hayatu-Deen urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the possibility of national transformation, warning against cynicism and acceptance of poor governance as normal.

Hayatu-Deen maintained that while his presidential campaign had come to an end, the task of building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Nigeria remains ongoing.