By Our Correspondent

National News – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken an early lead in the African Democratic Congress presidential primaries after winning five states in the ongoing contest to choose the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The exercise, which is attracting national attention, is being contested by Atiku, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Early results released from several states on Tuesday showed Atiku dominating the polls as delegates cast their votes across the country.

Party officials are yet to announce the final nationwide results, but figures from the early collation indicate the former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate is maintaining a strong advantage.

In Gombe State, Atiku secured 139,334 votes, while Amaechi polled 1,150 votes and Hayatu-Deen received 464 votes.

In Abia State, Atiku scored 25,153 votes ahead of Amaechi’s 18,339 votes, while Hayatu-Deen polled 3,264 votes.

The former vice president also recorded a landslide victory in Ebonyi State with 15,300 votes.

Amaechi secured 2,200 votes, while Hayatu-Deen got 200 votes. In Sokoto State, Atiku polled 68,823 votes, leaving Amaechi with 292 votes and Hayatu-Deen with 319 votes.

A similar result emerged in Zamfara State, where Atiku scored 60,500 votes.

Hayatu-Deen received 436 votes, while Amaechi got 191 votes in the ongoing ADC presidential primary election.

Political analysts believe the ADC primaries could influence opposition coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku, who contested previous presidential elections under the PDP, remains one of the leading opposition figures in Nigeria’s political landscape.

The ADC leadership is expected to announce the complete results after collation from the remaining states and the Federal Capital Territory later today.