ABUJA, Nigeria (FN), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a seasoned economist and politician, has picked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential nomination form, becoming the first aspirant to formally enter the party’s race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
The form was presented to him at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo. Party members described the move as an early show of strength and organisation.
Hayatu-Deen pledged to abide by the party’s leadership decision on the mode of primary, whether consensus or direct primaries. “I am here to pick up the nomination form to contest for the office of the president on the platform of ADC, and I have picked it up,” he said, stressing that democracy guarantees every eligible Nigerian the right to contest elective offices.
He promised to unveil fresh governance ideas centred on massive job creation, reducing living costs, tackling insecurity, and lifting millions out of poverty. “My priority is jobs, lower living costs, decisive action on insecurity and reducing poverty by at least 60 percent within four years,” he said, adding that Nigeria cannot continue as the “poverty capital of the world.”
Hayatu-Deen’s declaration builds on a long career in economics and public service. Born in Bama, Borno State in 1953, he studied Economics at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and later attended executive programs at Harvard Business School, London Business School, and INSEAD France. He served as Group Managing Director of the New Nigeria Development Company in the 1980s, overseeing more than 140 subsidiaries across diverse industries. In 1990, he became the pioneer Managing Director of FSB International Bank Plc, transforming it from a distressed government savings institution into a successful commercial bank. He later founded the Alpine Group, which developed the Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, one of West Africa’s largest shopping malls.
Hayatu-Deen has also held national advisory roles, including membership in the Presidential Advisory Council, chairmanship of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and leadership of the Transition Committee on the Economy in 2015. He was awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2000 for his contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.
Reactions to his candidacy have been mixed. ADC leaders hailed his entry as a boost to the party’s credibility, describing him as a visionary technocrat who could broaden its appeal. Opposition figures dismissed the move as symbolic, arguing that ADC lacks the national spread to challenge APC and PDP. On social media, supporters celebrated with hashtags such as #HayatuDeen2027 and #FreshIdeas, praising his economic expertise and reformist agenda. Critics questioned whether ADC could mount a serious challenge, while youth activists welcomed his emphasis on jobs and poverty reduction but urged him to expand his agenda to include education and technology.
Analysts say Hayatu-Deen’s candidacy underscores the growing appetite for technocratic leadership in Nigeria. His track record in banking and governance positions him as a credible reformist voice, but his success will depend on ADC’s ability to mobilize grassroots support and build coalitions strong enough to challenge the dominance of APC and PDP in 2027.
