Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has succeeded in setting up a possible ‘AA’ ticket on the presidential ballot of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by picking former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, as his running mate.
Amaechi’s emergence is seen as a strategic move by Atiku to counter the Peter Obi–Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket being fielded by the rival NDC for the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
Political observers say Atiku’s decision signals a departure from the approach he adopted before the 2023 election, when he declined to select former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who finished as runner-up in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary, as his running mate.
Following the defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and his New Nigeria Peoples Party counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the ADC, speculation grew that the party had already settled on an Atiku-Amaechi ticket to achieve a North-East/South-South regional balance.
However, Amaechi had earlier dismissed suggestions that he was angling for the vice-presidential slot. After purchasing and submitting his N90 million presidential nomination form, he insisted he was pursuing the party’s presidential ticket.
He also rejected reports of a consensus arrangement, maintaining on May 20 that the ADC should conduct a direct primary election.
A close associate of Amaechi told reporters that the former minister eventually accepted the proposal after pressure from influential political figures across the North-West and South-South.
According to the source, Atiku assured him that the vice-presidential candidate would play a significant role both during the campaign and in government.
Meanwhile, ADC chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze dismissed claims by party stalwart Dele Momodu that Amaechi had turned down the vice-presidential position. In a statement issued on Thursday, Eze described the remarks as a personal opinion capable of creating unnecessary tension within the party.
He clarified that Amaechi’s earlier comments merely indicated that no formal offer had been made to him at the time.