Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is currently engaged in a private meeting with his rival, Hayatu-Deen, at his Lagos residence.
Sources said the meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to reconcile dissatisfied party members following the ADC presidential primary.
Hayatu-Deen is expected to address journalists after the meeting.
The talks come just days after the ADC presidential primary, which saw Atiku emerge as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2027 general election.
Hayatu-Deen contested the primary alongside Atiku and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
However, before the official declaration of the results, Hayatu-Deen announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing allegations of widespread electoral malpractice.
Expressing concern over reports of irregularities nationwide, Hayatu-Deen stated that he had personally witnessed some of the incidents.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” Hayatu-Deen said.
Despite his withdrawal, the party later released the results of the primary, declaring Atiku the winner with 1,846,370 votes. Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, secured second place with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen received 177,120 votes.
Amaechi also rejected the outcome of the exercise, describing the results as “concocted” and alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement during the primary.
Since clinching the party’s ticket, Atiku has initiated reconciliation efforts aimed at fostering unity within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Prior to meeting Hayatu-Deen, the former vice president held discussions with Amaechi. Following that engagement, Atiku said their conversation centred on the nation’s pressing challenges, including economic hardship and insecurity.
According to him, the discussions involved frank and constructive exchanges on “the troubling state of the nation, the growing economic pain, insecurity, and the urgent responsibility on patriotic Nigerians to continue engaging in the search for solutions that can rescue our country from drift and despair.”
Responding to concerns raised about the primary, ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, insisted that the exercise was free and fair, although he acknowledged that it was not without flaws.
He noted that all the aspirants possessed the credentials to lead the party, but stressed that only one candidate could emerge as its presidential flag bearer.
Atiku and Amaechi joined the ADC in July 2025 alongside other opposition figures as part of a wider political realignment aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.