Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has raised concerns over worsening insecurity across Nigeria, warning that the country risks further economic decline and instability if political parties fail to present credible leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the “MHD for ADC” North Central Townhall in Abuja ahead of Monday’s presidential primary, Hayatu-Deen said the contest would determine whether the ADC was prepared to offer Nigerians a serious alternative to the current political order.
“The ADC primary is now only two days away. 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,” he said.
Hayatu-Deen devoted a significant part of his address to insecurity in the North Central region, citing persistent attacks on farming communities, displacement of residents, and growing economic hardship in states including Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi.
According to him, the security crisis has become both a humanitarian emergency and a threat to national food production.
“A nation cannot prosper when the region that feeds it is bleeding,” he stated.
Drawing from personal experience, the ADC aspirant recounted how his sister was kidnapped and held captive for three years in Borno State, saying the incident shaped his understanding of the country’s security challenges.
He said that under his leadership, security would no longer be treated as “a political slogan” but as the primary responsibility of government.
Hayatu-Deen also warned against what he described as the recycling of old political figures, insisting that Nigeria requires fresh leadership capable of uniting citizens across ethnic, religious and regional lines.
“I am not on the carousel of the same old faces that Nigerians have seen for decades. 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 said.
The presidential hopeful further linked insecurity to economic stagnation, unveiling plans that focused on job creation, agro-processing zones, youth employment incentives and women empowerment to restore productivity in affected communities.
He also defended the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal affairs, backing a recent Federal High Court ruling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, guidelines.
“The High Court was right to affirm that INEC should not dictate the internal democratic processes of political parties,” Hayatu-Deen said, adding that democratic institutions must remain “truly independent, credible, and accountable to the Nigerian people.”
He urged ADC delegates to elect a candidate capable of building a nationwide coalition ahead of the general election, warning that failure to do so could lead to “four more years of economic hardship, rising insecurity, deepening poverty, and growing hopelessness.”
