ADC: Hayatu-Deen backs leadership candidate selection, advances case for ticket
A presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Muhammed Hayatu-Deen, has called for the party leadership to determine the process for selecting its presidential candidate, urging
A presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Muhammed Hayatu-Deen, has called for the party leadership to determine the process for selecting its presidential candidate, urging unity among members to strengthen the party's chances ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Thursday, the former banker reaffirmed his commitment to the race, describing his ambition as a call to service shaped by decades of experience in both public and private sectors.
“My own personal view, if you ask me, is that while everybody would like to win the primaries, it is natural, you wouldn't go there just for the sake of fun. You want to go there because you want to help the Nigerian people and be in the best place to be able to win,” he said.
He tied his position on the mode of emergence of the party's standard bearer to the need for cohesion within the party, arguing that unity should take precedence over internal contest.
“But where we are now, and given the very short period of time given by the government, I think for the ADC, my own proposition is that we leave it to the party leaders themselves to decide what mode of primaries they are going to run. That would be the best thing under the circumstances. What we need is unity amongst the candidates and not division,” he added.
Hayatu-Deen urged aspirants to rally behind whoever emerges as the party’s flagbearer, stressing that unity would be decisive.
“If we truly all love this country, I think it is important that the single most important thing that will bind us together is unity of purpose and that we should fall behind whoever the party chooses to make their candidates,” he said.
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Explaining his position further, he outlined the three recognized pathways to party primaries: indirect, direct, and consensus, drawing from his experience in previous contests.
“One is what they call the indirect system, which is based on delegates. In the 2023 election in which I participated, almost everybody practiced that method… and that was highly monetized,” he said.
According to him, the delegate-based system often concentrates power in the hands of influential actors at the state level rather than rewarding policy depth.
“At the end of the day, it is not the beauty of your spreadsheet; it is the leverage that is exercised by the party leadership in that state,” he said.
He also expressed reservations about direct primaries, citing cost and logistics, saying, “The second way was direct primaries, it is full of logistical nightmares, and it is a very expensive operation. In fact, it is equivalent to running a general election".
On consensus, he said it involves party leaders and aspirants agreeing on criteria to select a candidate considered most capable.
“The third is consensus, agreeing on any number of criteria to decide who is the best that would be able to fly the flag of the party,” he said.
Hayatu-Deen made his preference clear regarding the delegate system, emphasizing, “If you want my personal opinion, I would say good riddance to the indirect primaries.”
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He warned that the electoral timetable leaves little room for prolonged internal contests.
“The time is now too short. Everybody has to produce a presidential candidate anytime between the 23rd of April and the 30th of May. If you don't, you lose that opportunity to put forth a candidate,” he said.
Beyond the nomination process, he outlined his broader concerns about the country’s direction, pointing to economic strain and insecurity as pressing challenges.
He said rising cost-of-living pressures and security threats continue to shape daily life, referencing incidents in parts of Borno State where communities face abductions and ransom demands.
Hayatu-Deen also raised concerns about the sequencing of recent economic reforms, arguing that inadequate cushioning measures have contributed to public discontent and declining confidence in governance.
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Reaffirming his ambition, he said Nigeria requires leadership focused on discipline, clarity, and measurable outcomes, adding that his approach would prioritize stabilizing the economy, addressing insecurity, and strengthening institutions to improve governance.
Drawing on over four decades of experience, he noted his involvement in institutional reforms, job creation initiatives, and efforts to expand access to education, particularly for children affected by insecurity.
He added that leadership must move beyond rhetoric to practical solutions, with emphasis on employment, safety, and institutional performance.
Hayatu-Deen also stressed the importance of national cohesion, saying effective leadership must unite diverse groups around shared objectives.
He expressed confidence in his capacity to lead and contribute to both party success and national development, while calling for sustained scrutiny and accountability in the political process.
According to him, his campaign will focus on rebuilding trust, restoring stability, and delivering policies that address both immediate and long-term challenges facing the country.
