By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
A presidential aspirant under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has announced that he will not challenge the outcome of the party’s May 25th, 2026 presidential primaries in court, despite expressing serious concerns over alleged irregularities and procedural lapses during the exercise.
In a reflective post-primary statement titled “My Campaign, The Silent Majority, and the Future of Our Democracy,” Hayatu-Deen described his campaign as a movement inspired by what he called Nigeria’s “silent majority”, citizens who still believe in competent, principled and visionary leadership.
While acknowledging disappointment with the conduct of the primary, he said the need for a strong and united opposition must remain greater than individual ambition.
He thanked supporters across the country and urged Nigerians not to accept dysfunction as normal, insisting that the larger struggle to build a fairer and more prosperous Nigeria continues.
A statement personally signed by him on Monday in Abuja, reads, “On Tuesday, 26 May, before the commencement of the collation of results for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries, I issued the following statement on my social media handles:
“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.
‘How can the ADC criticise INEC for election interference and the falsification of results, and yet tolerate the same within its own house? I will therefore be taking advice on my next steps.”
‘It is important that I provide proper context for that statement, not merely for the sake of my supporters and party members, but also because the issues raised go to the heart of the kind of democratic culture we must build if Nigeria is to move forward.
“In 2022, I entered partisan politics for the very first time when I aspired to serve as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“That experience taught me important lessons about politics, leadership, institutions, and indeed about our country itself.
“It was that experience that shaped many of my expectations going into the African Democratic Congress presidential primary of May 25, 2026.
‘I joined the ADC because I sincerely believed that the party represented an opportunity to build something different, a credible opposition movement anchored on a robust ideology, integrity, internal democracy and national renewal.
“I believed that many Nigerians, especially younger Nigerians, were searching for a politics that speaks not only to power, but to high purpose.
“A politics that is less driven by bitterness and more inspired by service. A politics that treats public office not as entitlement, but as responsibility.
“Throughout this primary campaign, I travelled across our country speaking with party members, young people, women leaders, professionals, students, entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans and countless ordinary Nigerians who remain deeply concerned about the direction of our nation.
“Everywhere I went, I encountered what I have come to describe as the silent majority. These are Nigerians who may not always dominate public discourse or social media conversations, but who carry within them a quiet and enduring hope for a better country.
“Nigerians who still believe that leadership matters. Nigerians who still believe that integrity matters. Nigerians who are not asking for perfection, but who long for a high quality of life, a safer and more secure society, fairness, equity, competence and compassion in governance. Nigerians who still believe that visionary and selfless leadership matters.
“Their faith inspired me. And it is in honour of that faith that I speak today.
“The outcome of the May 25 primary did not fully meet my expectations, and I have communicated my deep concerns about certain processes and procedural matters directly and privately to the leadership of the party.
“I trust that those concerns will be reviewed in the spirit of continuous improvement, because any party that aspires to lead Nigeria must first demonstrate democratic discipline and integrity within its own walls.
“I have decided, after careful reflection and wide consultation, that I will not challenge the outcome in court.
‘Nigeria urgently requires a strong, credible and united opposition. That objective must always remain larger than individual ambition or temporary political disappointment.
“What I will carry forward from this campaign is not bitterness, but gratitude. Gratitude to every Nigerian who believed in this movement.
“To the young people who volunteered their time and energy. To the women who organised tirelessly across communities. To our coordinators, supporters, donors, professionals, students, artisans, and party faithful across the federation, thank you.
“To my selfless campaign team, thank you for your sacrifice, resilience, discipline and belief in this cause. I remain deeply grateful to each and every one of you, and I doff my hat to your commitment and service.
‘Thank you for believing that politics can still be principled. Thank you for believing that integrity still matters in public life. Thank you for standing for something greater than personal interest.
‘What moved me most throughout this journey was the profound connection so many Nigerians had to the values we tried to represent: equity, inclusion, discipline, competence, integrity and national renewal.
“Many of you were not simply supporting Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. You were expressing your belief that Nigeria can still become the country we all know it can be.
“Please do not stop believing. Do not surrender your hope to cynicism. Do not accept dysfunction as normal. And do not stop believing in the possibility of a better nation.
‘History often changes quietly before it changes visibly. And every enduring national transformation begins with citizens who do not stop believing that a better future is possible.
“This campaign may have come to an end, but the larger task of building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Nigeria continues. And that cause remains worthy of our collective effort”, the statement concluded.
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