Former presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, says he will not challenge the outcome of the party’s May 25, 2026 presidential primary despite alleging irregularities during the exercise.

Hayatu-Deen made this known in a statement released on Monday titled “My campaign, the silent majority and the future of our democracy.”

The former aspirant said his decision was informed by the need to preserve party unity and support efforts to build a strong opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His latest position comes days after he distanced himself from the ADC primary process and boycotted the announcement of the results over alleged vote manipulation and procedural breaches.

In an earlier statement posted on social media on May 26, Hayatu-Deen had raised concerns about the integrity of the exercise.

“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,” he stated.

He also questioned the party’s commitment to democratic values, asking how the ADC could criticise electoral malpractice nationally while allegedly tolerating similar conduct internally.

However, in his latest statement, Hayatu-Deen said consultations with supporters and stakeholders influenced his decision not to seek legal redress.

“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,” he said.

Although he did not provide detailed evidence of the alleged irregularities, Hayatu-Deen maintained that the process failed to meet his expectations and said he had privately communicated his concerns to the party leadership.

“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,” he stated.

Hayatu-Deen explained that he joined the ADC because he believed the party could offer Nigerians a new political culture built on integrity, ideology, and internal democracy.

He also urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country’s democratic future despite growing frustration with governance and economic hardship.

“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,” he said.

The former aspirant described his supporters as part of Nigeria’s “silent majority”, citizens who still believe in fairness, competence, accountability, and compassionate leadership.

Hayatu-Deen added that although his presidential campaign had ended, the broader struggle for national renewal remained ongoing.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged winner of the ADC presidential primary with 1,846,370 votes, while Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen finished second and third with 504,117 and 177,120 votes, respectively.