ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar opened a commanding lead in the African Democratic Congress presidential primary Tuesday night, securing more than 1.4 million votes across 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory before the exercise was adjourned near midnight.
Early results showed Atiku dominating key northern strongholds and widening margins that his rivals, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, struggled to close. In Adamawa, Atiku’s home state, he polled 177,141 votes compared with Amaechi’s 1,896 and Hayatu-Deen’s 18,949. Kano delivered another decisive haul, with Atiku winning 155,595 votes against Amaechi’s 9,994 and Hayatu-Deen’s 15,914.
Atiku also posted sweeping victories in Gombe, where he recorded 136,933 votes while Amaechi managed 1,140 and Hayatu-Deen 455, and in Borno, where he secured 86,084 votes compared with Amaechi’s 2,493 and Hayatu-Deen’s 3,011. Sokoto added 63,823 votes to his tally, leaving both challengers far behind.
In Kebbi, Atiku won 65,523 votes, while Amaechi had 5,931 and Hayatu-Deen 454. He carried Anambra with 58,566 votes, Abia with 25,153, Ekiti with 18,395, Ondo with 18,287, and Imo with 52,222. In Yobe, he polled 44,841 votes, while Nasarawa gave him 41,649 and Enugu 33,879.
Amaechi showed his strongest resistance in Benue, Taraba and Kogi, though the margins remained insufficient to slow Atiku’s momentum. In Benue, Amaechi scored 30,881 votes against Atiku’s 55,177, while Hayatu-Deen polled 22,141. Taraba produced 25,150 votes for Amaechi, but Atiku still led with 48,523. In Kogi, Amaechi managed 23,573 votes, while Atiku secured 48,351.
Hayatu-Deen’s best outings came in Benue, Adamawa and Kano, but he struggled to break Atiku’s dominance elsewhere. In Akwa Ibom, Atiku polled 17,623 votes, while Amaechi had 20,343 and Hayatu-Deen 2,054. In Zamfara, Atiku won 60,500 votes, compared with Amaechi’s 191 and Hayatu-Deen’s 446.
Other results showed Atiku winning Osun with 12,321 votes, Oyo with 23,011, and the Federal Capital Territory with 18,704. He also carried Niger with 79,206 votes and Plateau with 47,558.
By the time collation was suspended, Atiku had amassed 1,432,275 votes. Amaechi trailed with 246,455, while Hayatu-Deen had 135,375.
The exercise, chaired by Ikechi Emenike, was halted to allow Muslim party members celebrate Eid al-Kabir and because some returning officers faced flight disruptions. Collation is scheduled to resume Wednesday evening, with results from 12 states still outstanding.
Inside the collation hall in Abuja, conversations had shifted from speculation about the eventual winner to the scale of Atiku’s lead and the political statement behind the huge margins emerging from northern states.
