The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has screened Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of FSB International Bank as part of preparations to select its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The screening exercise, which took place on Wednesday behind closed doors at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, was conducted by a panel chaired by Liyel Imoke, a former governor of Cross River state with Cyril Maduabum serving as secretary.
Hayatu-Deen arrived at the venue at about 10:50 a.m. and spent roughly one hour before the panel, while Atiku Abubakar arrived later at about 12:06 p.m.
Speaking with journalists after his session, Hayatu-Deen expressed satisfaction with the process, saying the exercise was smooth and thorough.
He said,“I spent approximately one hour in the room and it went very well.
“We are now at a very pivotal moment in the campaign process. I was screened and the interaction was detailed and constructive.”
He added that the party was approaching a critical stage in its nomination process, which could either involve a consensus arrangement or direct primaries.
“We are now going to go through a major momentous event in the sense that we’ll either undergo a consensus exercise or go into direct primaries within the short period of time that is available. I stand ready, able, and willing to go through that process,” he said.
Hayatu-Deen also outlined his vision, pledging a disciplined and reform-driven campaign if given the party’s ticket.
“I will wage a campaign that is disciplined, focused, and geared towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians at a very difficult moment in the nation’s history,” he said, listing insecurity, unemployment, inflation, and infrastructure decay as key challenges.
On his preparedness for a direct primary, he added: “I’ve been prepared for this for quite some time. You don’t go into this kind of thing without preparation. It is a process that I have thought through carefully.”
Shortly after, Atiku Abubakar appeared before the panel but declined to speak extensively with reporters.
“The screening went well,” he said briefly after the exercise.