Fresh health concerns have emerged surrounding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following reports that his sudden illness contributed to the postponement of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential screening exercise.
Fresh concerns have emerged over the health condition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following the abrupt postponement of the presidential screening exercise of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Sources within the party disclosed on Monday, May 18, 2026, that the veteran politician reportedly fell ill over the weekend and was immediately placed on strict bed rest by his personal physician. The unexpected health scare is said to have significantly disrupted the party’s schedule, serving as a primary catalyst for pushing the highly anticipated screening exercise forward.
The screening committee was originally scheduled to evaluate aspirants on Monday before the decision was made to shift the exercise to Wednesday. While internal party documents initially blamed the delay on ongoing strategic consultations, insiders confirmed that Atiku’s physical absence necessitated a temporary pause. The ADC leadership is currently locked in delicate negotiations to produce a unified front, trying to find a common ground between its three leading presidential contenders: former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, and prominent businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Party stakeholders are under immense pressure to select a formidable consensus candidate capable of mounting a robust challenge against President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming general election. While some factions within the ADC maintain that the two-day delay is strictly a tactical move to allow for broader consultations and finalize internal political alignments, other highly placed sources insist that Atiku’s medical condition remains the central factor. The development has renewed public scrutiny regarding the physical fitness of key opposition figures as the race for the party’s ultimate ticket intensifies.
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