I Have No Baggage, Political Godfather, Hayatu-Deen Tells ADC Delegates

Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has declared that he carries no political baggage and owes no allegiance to political godfathers as he intensified his appeal to delegates ahead of Monday’s presidential primary election.

Hayatu-Deen made the remarks on Saturday during the “MHD for ADC” North Central Townhall held in Abuja, where he urged party stakeholders to view the forthcoming primary as a defining moment for both the party and the country.

Addressing delegates and supporters, the ADC presidential aspirant said the party must decide whether it intends to present Nigerians with serious leadership or continue what he described as “recycled politics.”

“The ADC primary is now only two days away,” Hayatu-Deen said. “Monday is not merely about selecting a candidate. Monday is about determining whether the ADC is truly serious about rescuing Nigeria and offering Nigerians a credible alternative to the failed politics they have endured for too long.”

Positioning himself as a candidate capable of uniting Nigerians across regional, ethnic, and religious divides, Hayatu-Deen said he represents a departure from the country’s traditional political establishment.

“I am not on the carousel of the same old faces that Nigerians have seen for decades,” he declared. “I carry no political baggage. I owe no godfathers. What I bring is experience, credibility, integrity, calm leadership, and a practical recovery plan for Nigeria.”

He warned the party against presenting what he termed “a recycled candidate carrying old political burdens and failed ideas,” insisting that Nigerians are yearning for credible leadership and a fresh political direction.

Hayatu-Deen also expressed concern over the worsening insecurity, displacement, unemployment, and economic hardship affecting several states in the North Central region, including Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi.

According to him, the continued attacks on farming communities pose both humanitarian and economic threats to the country.

“A nation cannot prosper when the region that feeds it is bleeding,” he said.

Drawing from his personal experience growing up in Borno State, Hayatu-Deen recounted how his sister was kidnapped and held captive for three years, saying the experience shaped his understanding of insecurity and governance.

He assured delegates that security under his leadership would be treated as the primary responsibility of government rather than a political slogan.

The presidential aspirant also unveiled elements of his economic recovery agenda, which he said would focus on job creation, agro-processing zones, youth employment incentives, women’s economic empowerment, and restoring productivity across the North Central region.

Speaking on the recent court ruling concerning INEC’s guidelines, Hayatu-Deen defended the autonomy of political parties in conducting their internal affairs.

“The High Court was right to affirm that INEC should not dictate the internal democratic processes of political parties,” he stated. “INEC’s responsibility is to ensure credible elections, maintain fairness, and protect the integrity of the electoral process, not to interfere in how parties manage their internal affairs.”

He added that one of the major reasons he joined the presidential race was his belief that Nigeria’s democratic institutions must become more independent, credible, and accountable to the people.

Hayatu-Deen further warned that Nigerians were closely watching the ADC and would judge whether the party truly intends to emerge as a credible national alternative ahead of the 2027 general election.

“Nigerians are watching us carefully,” he said. “They are waiting to see whether the ADC truly intends to become a serious national alternative or merely another platform for recycled politics.”

The ADC presidential aspirant concluded the townhall by appealing directly to delegates to support his candidacy at Monday’s primary election.

“And so today, I ask for your support. I ask for your trust. And on Monday, I ask for your vote to carry the flag of our great party as its presidential candidate,” he said.

The North Central Townhall marked Hayatu-Deen’s final major engagement with stakeholders ahead of the ADC presidential primary scheduled for Monday.

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