African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has held a closed-door meeting with fellow party chieftain and former presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, in what many observers see as a major step towards uniting the party after its recent presidential primary.
The meeting took place at Hayatu-Deen’s residence in Lagos and comes amid efforts to reconcile aggrieved members following the party’s presidential contest.
Sharing details of the visit, Atiku revealed that both leaders had frank discussions about the future of the ADC and the state of the nation, stressing that they agreed to work together moving forward.
“We had productive discussions about our country and our party. We resolved to work together in the task of rebuilding and repositioning Nigeria for the benefit of our people,” Atiku said.
The meeting comes just days after Atiku emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate and was officially presented with the party’s flag.
However, the primary election was not without controversy, as Hayatu-Deen and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had openly questioned the conduct of the exercise and raised concerns about the voting process.
Hayatu-Deen had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome and reportedly declined to attend the official announcement of the results.
Since clinching the ticket, Atiku has repeatedly appealed to party members and former rivals to put their differences aside and focus on strengthening the ADC ahead of the 2027 general election.
He has maintained that internal contests should not create permanent divisions within the party and that everyone has a role to play in building a stronger opposition platform.
“There are no winners or losers. The most important thing is working together for the future of our country,”Atiku stated.
The former vice president also specifically reached out to both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen, urging them to join him in what he described as a collective effort to rescue Nigeria and strengthen democracy.
Sunday’s meeting is the latest in a series of reconciliation moves by Atiku.
Just days earlier, he visited former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja, a development widely interpreted as part of broader efforts to unite key stakeholders within the party and prevent post-primary divisions.
Political analysts believe these engagements could play a crucial role in consolidating support within the ADC as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.
