Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential hopeful under the African Democratic Congress, has dismissed zoning as the major criterion for selecting Nigeria’s next president, insisting that the country needs a competent and unifying leader ahead of the 2027 elections.
Hayatu-Deen also announced his readiness to contest the party’s presidential primary, stating that his campaign would concentrate on tackling insecurity, inflation, poverty, hunger, rising living costs and the growing number of children out of school across the country.
He made the remarks at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja shortly after submitting his nomination forms for the party’s presidential ticket for the January 2027 general election.
Speaking on the party’s primary process, the aspirant said the mode of selecting candidates was already provided for in the Electoral Act, adding that the party leadership would determine the most suitable approach capable of positioning the ADC for victory.
On the issue of zoning, Hayatu-Deen argued that Nigeria’s current situation demands capable leadership rather than ethnic or regional considerations.
According to him, the country’s over 230 million citizens deserve a president who can unite the people, understand the nation’s challenges and opportunities, and properly position Nigeria within the global community.
He lamented the worsening economic and security conditions in the country, citing inflation, poverty, hunger, poor healthcare facilities, rising living expenses and insecurity as major concerns facing Nigerians.
The ADC aspirant said his administration, if elected, would prioritise poverty reduction, improved security, lower living costs and policies aimed at returning children to school.
Hayatu-Deen further stressed that anyone seeking the office of president must see themselves as a leader for all Nigerians regardless of tribe, religion or region.
He maintained that competence should remain the most important factor in leadership selection, noting that once elected, a president takes an oath to serve every Nigerian equally.
Expressing confidence in his ambition, the presidential hopeful stated that he was fully prepared for the contest and optimistic about emerging victorious in both the party primary and the general election.