Hayatu-Deen challenges Atiku, Amaechi to publicly endorse ADC’s ethics code

Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has challenged fellow contenders in the party’s presidential race, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to publicly commit to the ADC’s newly unveiled Governance Principles and Code of Ethics, known as The Orange Book.

Hayatu-Deen issued the challenge on Friday while describing the screening process as one of the most significant political exercises he has witnessed in Nigeria’s democratic history.

According to him, every presidential and governorship aspirant screened by the party was presented with a copy of The Orange Book and required to affirm its principles as a condition for participation in the process.

In statements posted on his social media platforms, Hayatu-Deen described the document as “perhaps the first of its kind in modern Nigerian politics,” saying it represents a binding ethical framework aimed at redefining leadership and public service in Nigeria.

“The Orange Book is not a slogan. It is a declaration that public office is not for self-enrichment, personal glory or political entitlement, but for service to the Nigerian people,” he said.

The ADC code outlines standards expected of aspirants and public office holders under the party’s platform, including commitments to integrity, transparency, accountability, merit, discipline, rejection of corruption, opposition to vote-buying and godfatherism, and prioritising public interest above personal ambition.

Hayatu-Deen said two provisions of the document particularly stood out to him: “Leadership is measured not by individual legacy, but by the enduring impact of completed, purposeful and people-centred action,” and “I am a public servant, not a ruler of Nigerians.”

“These are not ordinary political declarations. They are standards that every leader, irrespective of political party, should be willing to uphold,” he stated.

The economist and former Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group publicly pledged to abide by both the spirit and letter of the code, while urging other aspirants seeking the ADC presidential ticket to openly declare whether they are prepared to do the same.

“Because Nigerians deserve transparency from those who seek to lead them, I believe every aspirant seeking the mandate of our great party should publicly declare whether they are willing to uphold these standards,” he said.

His remarks come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with the ADC increasingly positioning itself as a reform-driven alternative to Nigeria’s dominant political parties.

The party has recently attracted interest from prominent opposition figures amid wider debates about governance, accountability and the future of opposition politics in the country.

Hayatu-Deen argued that Nigeria’s challenges extend beyond economic hardship and insecurity, insisting that the country is equally confronted by a deeper crisis of leadership and public trust.

“Nigeria needs a different political culture rooted in service, responsibility, competence and moral courage. We must begin to change that,” he added.