By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has said he will abide by whatever decision the party adopts regarding the mode of its presidential primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Hayatu-Deen stated this on Wednesday in Abuja shortly after submitting his completed nomination form to contest for the office of the President under the platform of the ADC.
Describing the submission of his form as a significant step in his political journey, the economist and businessman said he was fully prepared for the contest and confident of emerging victorious.
“It’s a beautiful, smart, quick process and I came here to submit my completed nomination form for candidature for the office of the President of the Federal Republic under the aegis of the ADC,” he said.
“This is a remarkable day in the journey ahead of us, culminating in the presidential election of 2027. Power truly belongs to the people and what we are here to do is to give Nigerians a choice.”
The presidential hopeful expressed confidence in his chances, noting that he was prepared for the rigours of the campaign.
“I’m fully prepared to contest this election. I’m certain of myself and very confident about the kind of campaign that I’m waging,” he added.
Speaking on debates surrounding the mode of primary elections within political parties, Hayatu-Deen said the decision on whether to adopt consensus, direct, or indirect primaries rests with the party leadership in line with the Electoral Act.
“As far as the model of primaries is concerned, it is firmly entrenched in the Electoral Act. The party leadership will decide what model of primaries will best suit the needs of the ADC in order for it to win this election,” he stated.
On the issue of zoning, the ADC aspirant stressed that competence and leadership capacity should take precedence over regional considerations.
According to him, Nigerians need a leader capable of uniting the country and addressing its pressing economic and security challenges.
“The 230 million Nigerians deserve a leader who is a unifier, not a divider, who understands this country, its opportunities and problems, and also understands Nigeria’s place in the world,” he said.
Hayatu-Deen identified inflation, rising cost of living, poverty, insecurity, poor healthcare, and out-of-school children as some of the major issues confronting the country.
He pledged that if elected president, his administration would focus on reducing poverty, tackling insecurity, lowering the cost of living, and improving access to education and healthcare.
“We face enormous problems in this country. If I’m lucky to get the nomination and contest this election, I will wage a campaign focused on alleviating poverty, eliminating insecurity, reducing the cost of living, and giving Nigerians prosperity and a better quality of life,” he said.
The aspirant further argued that anyone seeking the office of president should see themselves first as a Nigerian leader rather than as a representative of any ethnic or regional bloc.
“Once you put your hands on the Quran or the Bible, you are taking an oath to work for all Nigerians regardless of where they come from,” he added.
