Businessman and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has announced that he will not challenge the election results in court following his third-place finish in the recent African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.
Hayatu-Deen made his intention known in a statement released on Monday, titled “My Campaign, the Silent Majority, and the Future of Our Democracy.”
In the statement, Hayatu-Deen provided detailed context for his decision to boycott the official declaration of results last week.
He expressed concerns over internal party democracy, revealing that he had privately communicated evidence of widespread procedural irregularities and vote-rigging directly to the ADC leadership for internal review.
However, the former banker emphasized that his personal political disappointments must not overshadow the broader national objective of establishing a formidable democratic front.
“I have decided, after careful reflection and wide consultation, that I will not challenge the outcome in court,” Hayatu-Deen stated. “Nigeria urgently requires a strong, credible, and united opposition. That objective must always remain larger than individual ambition or temporary political disappointment.”
Reflecting on his journey, which began with his initial foray into partisan politics during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cycle before joining the ADC, Hayatu-Deen expressed profound gratitude to his campaign team, volunteers, and the “silent majority” of ordinary Nigerians who backed his message of equity, competence, and national renewal.
He urged his supporters not to surrender to cynicism, noting that history often changes quietly before it changes visibly.
Hayatu-Deen’s declaration comes barely 24 hours after the winner of the primary, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, paid a visit to his Lagos residence on Sunday.
Atiku, who claimed the ADC presidential ticket with over 1.8 million votes, has embarked on an internal reconciliation tour to unite the party ahead of the 2027 general election. The former Vice President’s reconciliation drive also included a similar visit on Thursday to his runner-up, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has also openly criticised the transparency of the primary exercise.
