Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid a reconciliatory visit on Thursday, May 28, 2026, to former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi at his Abuja residence, day after winning the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.
Atiku arrived with a delegation that included ex-Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal, former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu, and other party leaders.
The trip follows widespread reaction to the ADC’s direct primary, a contest held after all three aspirants rejected calls for a consensus candidate.
The party declared Atiku its presidential flagbearer for the 2027 election on Wednesday night at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Official tallies showed Atiku with 1,846,370 votes, Amaechi with 504,117, and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen with 177,120.
After the victory was announced, ADC leadership led by former Senate President David Mark formally presented the party flag to Atiku.
Speaking after the results, Atiku urged disappointed members and rivals to rally behind the party as it prepares for the general election.
“I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us,” he said.
The Punch reports that the former vice president also directly appealed to Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to work with him ahead of the general election.
“In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” Atiku stated.
He stressed that the outcome of the primary should not divide the party.
“As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership, and I am ready to lead,” he added.
Atiku further, according to the report, pledged to work with all stakeholders to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I shall work with you all to continue to build our party. I will campaign with you and, if Nigeria’s leaders demand it, govern with you to build a country that works for all of us,” he said.
However, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen reportedly rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging irregularities in the voting process. Hayatu-Deen also said he would not attend the announcement of the results.
Details of Thursday’s closed-door meeting between Atiku and Amaechi were not made public as of the time of filing this report.
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