Barring any last-minute change, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly picked former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
Earlier on Monday, June 8, Amaechi visited Atiku in Abuja. The closed-door meeting further fueled speculation over the ADC’s running mate calculations ahead of 2027.
The latest decision followed weeks of negotiations within the opposition coalition, especially after disagreements that trailed the presidential primary and the movement of some key figures to rival political platforms.
Atiku’s choice of Amaechi is seen as a major political calculation aimed at strengthening the ADC’s national spread and countering the rival ticket of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on the Nigeria Democratic Congress platform.
The development is expected to produce what some political actors have described as an “AA” ticket, with Atiku from the North-East and Amaechi from the South-South.
Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor, had earlier insisted that he was not seeking the vice-presidential slot after purchasing and returning his ₦90 million presidential nomination form.
He had also dismissed suggestions that the party should adopt a consensus arrangement, insisting on a direct primary.
However, according to The Guardian, sources close to the former minister said he later accepted the offer after pressure and appeals from influential political leaders from the North-West and the South-South.
A close ally of Amaechi said Atiku gave assurances that the vice-presidential nominee would play a major role in both the campaign and a possible ADC government.
According to the source, Atiku assured that the “VP nominee would have extensive roles to play in the campaigns and government”.
The development appears to mark a departure from Atiku’s approach in the build-up to the 2023 election, when he declined to pick former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who came second in the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary.
Before the latest development, an ADC chieftain, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, had faulted comments credited to party stalwart Dele Momodu, suggesting that Amaechi had rejected the vice-presidential slot ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement posted on his verified social media accounts, Eze described Momodu’s remarks as a personal opinion that could create unnecessary tension, mistrust and misunderstanding within the party.
He explained that Amaechi’s earlier comments after the ADC presidential primary only meant that nobody had formally approached him about becoming a running mate.
Eze maintained that the former minister remained a major figure in the party and should not be dragged into needless speculation capable of weakening the ADC ahead of the election.
About the Author
