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Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is holding a closed-door meeting in Lagos with Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a rival in the party’s presidential primary.
According to Channels Television on Sunday, the meeting comes days after Atiku emerged as the ADC presidential candidate and was formally presented with the party’s flag following his victory at the primary.
The development follows complaints from some aspirants over the conduct of the exercise, with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen rejecting the outcome, alleging irregularities in the voting process. Hayatu-Deen had also declined to attend the official announcement of the results.
After his emergence, Atiku called on dissatisfied aspirants and party members to set aside grievances and unite for the broader goal of strengthening the party ahead of the general election.
He said those who felt disappointed by the outcome should return to the party and work alongside others in the interest of unity.
“I therefore appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us,” Atiku said.
Atiku also specifically invited Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to join him in what he described as a collective effort to address Nigeria’s challenges, stressing that internal competition should not divide the party.
“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,” he said.
He maintained that the primary should not create winners and losers, adding that the party’s supporters expect leadership and cohesion from its leaders.
The former vice president further pledged to work with all stakeholders to strengthen the ADC and ensure a united front going into the next general election, saying he was prepared to collaborate with all aspirants in building a more inclusive political platform.
“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.
“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.”
The meeting with Hayatu-Deen follows a recent similar engagement with Amaechi in Abuja, part of wider reconciliation efforts within the party after the primary election.
