ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken an early lead in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, winning in six states as results from the ongoing exercise continue to emerge.
Preliminary figures show Atiku ahead in Sokoto, Abia, Osun, Gombe, Ebonyi, and Zamfara states, putting him in front of other contenders, including former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Although the ADC national leadership is yet to release an official collation of results, figures gathered from party officials and state collation centres indicate a widening gap between Atiku and his rivals.
In Gombe State, Atiku recorded a massive 139,334 votes, while Amaechi polled 1,150 votes and Hayatu-Deen scored 464 votes.
In Abia State, Atiku secured 25,153 votes, defeating Amaechi, who got 18,339 votes, and Hayatu-Deen, who polled 3,264 votes.
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Ebonyi State also went in Atiku’s favour, where he polled 15,300 votes. Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen scored 2,200 and 200 votes respectively.
In Sokoto State, Atiku maintained a strong lead with 69,431 votes, while Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen polled 292 and 319 votes respectively.
Zamfara also produced a decisive win for the former vice president, who garnered 60,500 votes, ahead of Hayatu-Deen’s 436 votes and Amaechi’s 191 votes.
In Osun State, the Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr Adepoju Abimbola, announced that Atiku won across all 30 local government areas with 12,321 votes.
A statement issued by ADC Publicity Secretary, Seun Abosede, confirmed that Atiku polled 12,321 votes out of about 17,000 accredited voters in the state exercise.
Hayatu-Deen came second in Osun with 4,000 votes, while Amaechi scored 679 votes.
The ongoing primary is expected to produce the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 general election as the party continues its nationwide collation process.