2027: ADC names Amaechi as Atiku's running mate

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 general election.

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The announcement comes days after reports of the pick began circulating in the media.

On Saturday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi told PREMIUM TIMES he could not confirm the reports that Mr Amaechi had been selected as for the slot.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, Mr Abdullahi formally announced Mr Amaechi’s selection, describing the Atiku-Amaechi partnership as a “unity and rescue ticket” aimed at offering Nigerians an alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“The National Leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), after extensive consultations with party leaders, coalition partners, youth and women stakeholders, and representatives of all geopolitical zones, is proud to announce that the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been selected as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of our great party for the 2027 Presidential Election,” the statement said.

According to the party, the decision followed consultations across its structures and reflected Mr Amaechi’s performance in the ADC presidential primary, where he emerged runner-up to Atiku.

The party said Mr Amaechi’s experience as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation would complement Atiku’s leadership and strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.

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“The proposed partnership between His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi represents more than a political alliance; it is the coming together of two tested statesmen with the experience, national reach, and leadership capacity required to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges and reposition the country for a new era of prosperity, security, and inclusive development,” the statement added.

Strategic Calculations

The announcement formalises weeks of speculation over a possible Atiku-Amaechi ticket following the conclusion of the ADC presidential primary.

Political observers had viewed Mr Amaechi, a prominent political figure from Rivers State, as one of the strongest contenders for the vice-presidential slot because of his influence in the South-South region and his extensive experience in public office.

The pairing creates a North-East/South-South ticket, with Atiku from Adamawa State and Mr Amaechi from Rivers State, a combination the party believes will enhance its national appeal.

The ADC said Mr Amaechi’s political influence across Southern Nigeria, coalition-building capacity and governance experience make him uniquely positioned to complement Mr Atiku’s candidacy.

“Together, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi embody a truly national ticket—one that bridges regions, generations, and political traditions,” the party said.

Echoes of 2023

The development has revived comparisons with the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, when Atiku defeated former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary before eventually selecting then Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Unlike the prolonged uncertainty that characterised the PDP’s vice-presidential selection process in 2022, the ADC has now formally settled the issue less than a year after its emergence as the platform for a broad opposition coalition seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The announcement is expected to energise the opposition coalition as political parties intensify preparations for what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested presidential election.

The ADC called on its members, coalition partners, civil society groups, youth organisations and other stakeholders to rally behind the ticket, expressing confidence that the Atiku-Amaechi partnership would strengthen its campaign and improve its chances in the 2027 polls.