LAGOS, Nigeria (FN), Former banker and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has declared his intention to run for president under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nigeria’s 2027 elections, joining a crowded field that includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
Hayatu-Deen, who previously sought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2023, said his campaign will focus on stabilizing Nigeria’s economy, tackling insecurity, and fostering national unity. “Nigerians are struggling with rising food and fuel prices, worsening insecurity, and a weakening naira,” he said in his announcement, adding that leadership with empathy and experience is urgently needed.
The ADC, traditionally a smaller opposition party, has become a magnet for high-profile aspirants ahead of 2027. Party leaders have signaled they may adopt a consensus approach to select their candidate, citing cost-effectiveness and the need to avoid internal divisions.
Hayatu-Deen’s move reflects a familiar pattern in Nigerian politics, where prominent figures often switch parties to pursue presidential ambitions. Obi left the PDP for the Labour Party in 2022, galvanizing youth and urban voters in the 2023 election. Atiku has contested under multiple platforms, including PDP and the now-defunct Action Congress. Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso also defected from PDP to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in 2022 before resigning in 2026.
Similar realignments have shaped past elections. Muhammadu Buhari contested under the APC in 2015 after leaving the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), ultimately winning the presidency. In 2019, defections from PDP to APC reshaped the political landscape, while Obi’s Labour Party candidacy in 2023 demonstrated how smaller parties can become viable platforms when backed by strong personalities.
With multiple heavyweights now under its banner, the ADC faces the challenge of balancing competing ambitions while presenting a united front. Analysts say the party’s ability to manage this crowded field will determine whether it can emerge as a formidable force against the ruling APC in 2027.
