The African Democratic Congress has confirmed former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, despite his earlier opposition to the primary outcome.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has chosen former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
According to Daily Post, the development was confirmed on Saturday by the immediate past chairman of the ADC in Rivers State, Leader Sampson.
The announcement marks a dramatic turn in the party’s internal politics, coming just weeks after Amaechi contested the ADC presidential primary against Atiku and openly challenged the outcome of the exercise.
Amaechi had entered the race insisting he was not interested in becoming a vice-presidential candidate and was seeking the party’s top ticket.
Before the primary election, the former minister repeatedly maintained that he did not purchase the ADC nomination form merely to end up as a running mate.
Following his defeat, Amaechi was among party figures who expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primary, amid allegations by some aggrieved members that the process was skewed in Atiku’s favour.
The controversy triggered speculation about the future relationship between the two political heavyweights and whether the former Rivers governor would remain active within the party’s presidential campaign.
However, those concerns appear to have been put to rest.
When asked whether Amaechi had accepted the vice-presidential nomination, Sampson gave a brief but definitive response: “yes.”
The Atiku-Amaechi ticket is expected to reshape the political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, combining Atiku’s long-standing national political network with Amaechi’s influence in the South-South region and among key opposition stakeholders.
Political observers say the alliance could strengthen the ADC’s efforts to position itself as a formidable challenger in the next general election.
Neither Atiku nor Amaechi had issued a detailed public statement on the development as of the time of filing this report.
The confirmation nevertheless signals a new phase in the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 contest, with the party now expected to focus on building unity after a fiercely contested primary and presenting a united front ahead of the campaign season.
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