By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
The hallmark of all elections is to be declared the winner.
Thus, as Nigeria 2027 presidential election gets boiling, the choice of who is the candidate in political parties willing to file its lead actor is gradually leaving speculation stage to reality.
The African Democratic Congress ADC has fixed its primary to hold on May 23, 2026.
Hitherto, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Atiku Abubakar has been identified as aspirants which party members will vote to represent them.
The trio of Hayatu-Deen, Amaechi and Atiku are experienced presidential aspirants in previous elections. let’s get to know respectively.
MOHAMMED HAYATU-DEEN
Hayatu-Deen is an economist, banker, born in 1953 in Bama, Borno State
He studied Economics at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and went through an executive programs at Harvard Business School, London and another Business School, INSEAD France.
In his private sector life he is the Group MD of New Nigeria Development Company since in the 80s and oversee 140+ subsidiaries
Hayatu-Deen is the pioneer MD/CEO of FSB International Bank Plc in in the 1990s where he turned a distressed government savings institution into a commercial bank
Hayatu-Deen is the founder of Alpine Group which developed Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, one of West Africa’s largest shopping malls
He is the former Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
Hayatu-Deen is the bearer of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) since year 2000
In the Public Service he served in the National Council on Privatisation under Goodluck Jonathan
Hayatu-Deen was Chairman, Bureau of Public Enterprise during Jonathan’s VP tenure and also served in the Presidential Advisory Committee when Jonathan was acting president and president
He was Chairman, Transition Committee of the Economy in 2015
In 2022, Hayatu-Deen contested PDP presidential primaries for 2023 election but withdrew before the primary
In April 2026, he resigned from PDP, defected to African Democratic Congress (ADC and cited worsening insecurity, rising cost of living, and “shrinking democratic space”
In May 2026 Hayatu-Deen became first official ADC presidential aspirant for 2027 where he picked up ₦90m–₦100m expression of interest & nomination forms
In May 2026, Hayatu-Deen met former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja to inform him of his 2027 ambition
Comparing Hayatu-Deen to Atiku, the later operated at federal policy level, privatised national assets.
But Hayatu-Deen turned around specific institutions like FSB, NNDC
Privatisation linkage: Both Atiku and Hayatu-Deen chaired privatisation bodies. Atiku did it nationally 1999-2007; Hayatu-Deen was BPE Chairman under Jonathan
In term of private wealth, Atiku built billion-dollar empire. Hayatu-Deen built Alpine Group and a bank
In terms of criticism, Atiku’s privatisation accused of cronyism. Hayatu-Deen’s FSB
record has no major corruption allegations
CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI
Amaechi is a former Rivers State Governor, former Minister of Transportation, and 2027 ADC presidential aspirant.
Here is his political profile:
Amaechi was born on May 27, 1965 in Ikwerre, Rivers State. He holds a BA in English Literature, from the University of Port Harcourt; LLB, Nigerian Law School and he attended King’s College London.
From 1999 to 2007 Amaechi was Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly on the platform of People Democratic Party (PDP) for 8 years
From 2007 to 2015 Amaechi served as Governor of Rivers State still under PDP where he won via Supreme Court ruling sacking Celestine Omehia.
Amaechi defected to APC in 2014, and in 2015 he became Minister of Transportation till 2022 in Muhammadu Buhari first and second term.
Amaechi resigned in May 16, 2022 to contest APC presidential primary where he scored the second largest votes but lost to Bola Hamed Tinubu
Amaechi officially joined ADC in January 2026, when he registered in Ward 8, Ubima, Rivers State
As Governor of Rivers State, he embarked
on extensive road construction, urban renewal in Port Harcourt
Amaechi built 500+ model primary schools and introduced free education policy in the state
About healthcare, Amaechi upgraded hospitals, primary healthcare centres
And concerning insecurity, he reduced militancy in Rivers during his tenure
As Minister of Transportation, he constructed Abuja-Kaduna rail, Lagos-Ibadan rail, Warri-Itakpe rail
The Deep Blue Project for maritime security, and the airport terminal upgrades were all done within the time he was Minister of Transport
Amaechi officially declared and picked ADC ₦90M nomination forms in May 2026. The forms were obtained from the former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun.
For his 2027 Presidential campaign, Amaechi said:
“I will contest the ADC presidential primary… I am not stepping down for anyone. Let the people decide who they want to lead”
One term pledge: Amaechi says he is committed to serving only 4 years if elected, to maintain North-South rotation.
“The way Nigeria is, you must stick to that unwritten agreement that says South eight years, North eight years”
“If you look at all those aspiring, including Tinubu, who is better prepared than I am? My candidacy offers unity because I come from the South, and we are not in conflict with any region”
About Tinubu Amaechi said, “Nigerians are tired because no one is happy under Tinubu, not even in Rivers or across the South. People are suffering everywhere”
Amaechi insists ADC primary must be free, fair, transparent and he says he will support whoever emerges
Strengths/Experience Amaechi has 23+ years in governance legislature, state and federal executive council
Amaechi was the former Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum. And he ran Buhari’s presidential campaigns 2015 & 2019
Amaechi weaknesses/Challenges:
Analysts say “ADC has little or no functional structure in Rivers State”, his home base. Therefore it will be hard for him to mobilize delegates from his home.
ATIKU ABUBAKAR
Atiku is Nigeria’s former Vice President, and a
6-time presidential candidate, and now a 2027 ADC presidential aspirant.
Here is his political profile:
Atiku was born on the 25th of November 1946 in Jada, Adamawa State. He will turns 81 in 2027
Atiku is holder of a Diploma in Law, Ahmadu Bello University and he later went through business/economics training
Before Atiku joined politics he was an officer of Nigeria Customs Service where he retired as Deputy Director.
He is a businessman and co-founder of Intels Nigeria Ltd. Intel is an oil servicing firm.
Atiku political career timeline:
In 1999–2007, Atiku was Vice President of Nigeria on the platform of PDP where he served under President Olusegun Obasanjo
He was 2007 Presidential candidate under Action Congress (AC) and he lost to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of PDP.
In 2011 he was again presidential aspirant in PDP and he lost primary to Goodluck Jonathan.
Between 2014–2017 Atiku was member APC. He joined APC with 5 PDP governors, but lost 2015 primary to Buhari
In 2019 Atiku was again a presidential candidate in PDP and he lost to Buhari
In 2023 he was presidential candidate in PDP and he lost again to Bola Hamed Tinubu
In July 2025 Atiku resigned from PDP and cited “irreconcilable differences” and departure from founding principles
In 2026 he became a member in ADC after being registered in Jada 1 Ward, Adamawa State.
Atiku has obtained ₦90m ADC presidential nomination form
Atiku has joined six political parties in 38 years namely: PDP, AC, PDP, APC, PDP, ADC
As the coalition driver: He is been described as: “The leading initiator of the coalition” to unseat APC. ADC adopted as “common platform” for opposition figures
The initial mission of the Coalition was: _“Decisive national rescue mission aimed at ending the misrule of APC.”
About the primary, Atiku said he will accept consensus but wants open primary if that fails. “I will back whoever emerges ADC presidential candidate”
About Tinubu, Atiku said: “Bola has been a very bad President… it’s a disappointment.” Accuses presidency of turning checks-and-balances institutions “under one roof”
Strengths/ Experience VP for 8 years, 30+ years in national politics
Network:
Extensive structure across North, strong name recognition nationwide.
Primary winner:
Proven ability to win party primaries as he won PDP ticket in 2019, 2023
Challenges:
- Age: Will be 81 in 2027. Critics question viability as octogenarian president
- Party hopping: six political parties in 38 years. Opponents call him a political nomad. But his national political connection is always a threat to all his opponents
Written by:
Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
Senior News Editor @ 9newsng.com, Reporting in French and English language
E-mail: [email protected]
