Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, has declared in unequivocal terms that he will not withdraw from the party’s 2027 presidential primary for any rival contender, insisting that his bid is anchored on a clear vision for the country’s economic transformation and national development.

Hayatu-Deen made the declaration during a media chat with political editors in Abuja, where he addressed questions about his chances in a field that includes two political heavyweights former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi both of whom have also purchased the ADC’s presidential nomination forms at a cost of N90 million each.

“I will not step down for anybody,” he said. “This is a very serious undertaking, and we are at a defining moment in our country’s history,” he vowed.

The economist and banker, who holds four decades of experience in Nigeria’s corporate world, argued that every eligible citizen possesses the constitutional right to seek elective office, and that the upcoming election should be about substance, not sentiment. He placed the blame for Nigeria’s deteriorating conditions rising inflation, mass unemployment, a crumbling healthcare system, and deepening insecurity squarely on what he described as weak and uninspired leadership since 2007, insisting that the country urgently needs competent and visionary leadership capable of reversing nearly two decades of decline.

Hayatu-Deen was equally dismissive of what he termed an elite-driven zoning debate, describing it as a divisive agenda that primarily serves the political and financial interests of a powerful few. “We should have moved beyond sentiments rooted in regionalism and tribalism,” he said, adding that governance must be refocused on improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians and lifting millions out of poverty through practical, people-oriented policies.

Despite his firm position on staying in the race, Hayatu-Deen struck a conciliatory tone on the question of party loyalty. He indicated that should he fail to secure the ADC ticket through a transparent and credible primary process, he would throw his full weight behind whoever emerges as the flag-bearer. “I have built a reputation and credibility over many years. Whoever emerges as the candidate will have my full support. I will stand behind that person and work with the party to ensure victory at the polls,” he said.

Hayatu-Deen, who was the first aspirant to obtain the ADC’s presidential nomination forms, joined the party in April 2026 after a political journey that previously took him to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he purchased forms for the 2023 presidential primary before withdrawing, alleging that the process had been monetised beyond acceptable limits.

His entry into the ADC race has added a competitive dimension to what many had initially expected to be a more straightforward contest, injecting fresh uncertainty into a primary that now features three aspirants of varying backgrounds, reach, and resources.