ADC Primary: Atiku secures victory in Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has recorded sweeping victories in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential primaries in Yobe, Zamfara and Sokoto states.

Atiku defeated former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen by wide margins in the three northern states, according to results announced by returning officers on Monday.

In Yobe State, Atiku polled 44,841 votes to defeat Hayatu-Deen, who scored 365 votes, while Amaechi secured 300 votes.

Chairperson of the electoral committee in the state, Ma’am Kyari, announced the result in Damaturu.

“Having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is hereby declared the winner of the ADC presidential primary election in Yobe State,” she said.

Kyari said the exercise was peaceful and conducted in line with the party’s guidelines.

She commended party members, officials and security agencies for ensuring a smooth process across the state.

In Zamfara State, Atiku also won by a landslide after polling 60,500 votes.

The Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer for the exercise, Namadi Musa, announced the results in Gusau.

Musa said Hayatu-Deen scored 446 votes, while Amaechi polled 191 votes.

According to him, the primary was conducted across all 147 wards in the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State, in line with the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act.

He said 63,484 party members were registered for the exercise, while 61,137 votes were cast.

“Having fulfilled the ADC guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2026, and having scored the highest votes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is hereby returned as the party’s presidential candidate in Zamfara,” Musa declared.

He added that the exercise was conducted peacefully across the state.

The collation and announcement of results were conducted in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders.

In Sokoto State, Atiku secured another comfortable win, polling 68,823 votes across the 23 local government areas.

The Chief Collation Officer, Aminu Abubakar, announced the result on Monday.

He said Amaechi polled 292 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 319 votes.

Abubakar said the exercise was peaceful and conducted in accordance with the party’s constitutional provisions and guidelines.

“With the current development, Atiku Abubakar, having scored the highest number of votes cast, has been declared the winner in Sokoto State,” he said.

Dignitaries present at the Sokoto exercise included Aminu Tambuwal, Munir Dan’iya and Faruk Yabo.

The victories in Yobe, Zamfara and Sokoto give Atiku a strong early showing in the ADC presidential primary contest as the party continues its nationwide process ahead of the 2027 election.