By Ehichioya Ezomon
The online publication, Radarr News, on June 13, 2026, reported: “BREAKING: Amaechi Finally Accepts Offer, Set to Be Announced as Atiku’s Running Mate.” The news flash quoted a report by POLITICS NIGERIA that former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, “has selected” former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate for the 2027 General Election.
The report stated that the “selection” follows the ADC presidential direct primary in which Atiku emerged as the standard-bearer, defeating Amaechi, and businessman, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, adding that, “a political breakthrough reportedly crystallised following a reconciliation visit by Atiku to Amaechi’s residence shortly after the primaries.”
That visit took place on May 28, 2026, at which an otherwise enraged Amaechi, over alleged rigging of the ADC presidential primary, was homely and jocular, and shared with Atiku matters of state and personal curricula, as Atiku posted on his X handle later in the day. Vanguard reported on the visit as follows:
“This afternoon, I visited my brother and compatriot, former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, at his Abuja residence.
“Beyond the warmth and camaraderie, we had deep and honest conversations about the troubling state of our nation, the growing economic pain, insecurity, and the urgent responsibility on patriotic Nigerians to continue engaging in the search for solutions that can rescue our country from drift and despair.
“I also felicitated with him on the occasion of his birthday yesterday (May 27, 2026) and teased that Arsenal’s historic triumph (as Champions of the English Premier League for the 2025/2026 football season) could not have arrived at a better time. Chief Amaechi, a thoroughly well-loaded Gunner, took the banter in very good spirits.
“In true Rivers hospitality, he apologised for not having enough time to prepare Fisherman Soup, a delicacy I have now been promised on our return for the second leg.”
In a statement on June 15, 2026, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed Atiku and Amaechi’s pairing as a “unity and rescue ticket” that offers Nigerians an alternative platform, saying that Amaechi’s choice “follows consultations with party stakeholders, coalition partners and representatives from across the country.”
Besides, Abdullahi noted that the decision to pick Amaechi was influenced by his performance in the primary, and “his extensive record in public service spanning the legislative and executive arms of government,” stressing that the Atiku-Amaechi partnership “brings together two experienced political figures with the national reach and leadership credentials needed to tackle Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges.”
Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had rejected the ADC primary, describing it as manipulated across board, and boycotted the collation and declaration of the results, which showed that Atiku, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen polled 1,855,787 votes, 509,397 votes and 180,903 votes, in that order, with Atiku quickly engaging with the duo, to douse tension and assuage their grievances.
During a meeting at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Atiku appealed for party unity, and urged Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to join him in “building a formidable front to save Nigeria’s democracy,” emphasising that the “primary was a collective effort rather than a battle of winners and losers.”
Though he placed a distant second at the primary, Amaechi’s a perfect pick for Atiku, as he’d a good showing in his stronghold of South-South, where Atiku and the ADC will be up against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, and former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the zone’s APC-controlled six states.
In the absence of Obi, who flirted with the ADC for a few months and ported, no other Southern member of the party is qualified than Amaechi in terms of experience, reach and deep pocket to run with Atiku for President in 2027.
Monikered “The Lion of Ubima” – a reference to his hometown in Rivers State – Amaechi parades an intimidating public service experience of eight years as Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as Rivers Governor, twice chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), and almost eight years as Minister of Transportation.
Amaechi’s twice Director-General of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Council for the 2015 and 2019 General Elections, leading to APC’s consecutive victories – a feat that initially recommended him as well to be appointed the Director-General of Atiku Presidential Campaign Council for 2027 before he’s named Atiku’s running mate.
With Amaechi’s pick as his running mate, Atiku may’ve corrected his “2023 mistake” of not choosing then-Rivers Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, after the 2022 primary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On Primary Day, Wike’s virtually tied with Atiku in the delegate-count before former Sokoto Governor and ex-House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal stepped down, and freed his “pledged delegates” to Atiku, thus enhancing his numbers to defeat Wike with 371 votes to 237 votes.
In the result announced by the Chief Returning Officer and former Senate President, Sen. David Mark (now the National Chairman of the ADC), ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki secured 70 votes; then-Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel and Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed scored 38 votes and 20 votes, respectively; former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim got 14 votes; Mr Sam Ohuabunwa and Terila Diana Oliver (the only female aspirant), got one vote each; while ex-Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Publisher of Ovation, Mr Dele Momodu (now Atiku’s right-hand man), received zero votes.
Atiku’s rejection of Wike – coupled with his backing for a Northern national chairman, contrary to the PDP constitution that forbids the presidential candidate and chairman emerging from the same region, North or South, in any election cycle – caused Wike and four other PDP governors to work against his election in 2023.
With this background in the rearview mirror, the watching public may want to ask: What’s “finally” got to do with Amaechi accepting to play a “second fiddle” should providence smile on Atiku and crown his 33-year struggle to be President of Nigeria?
Amaechi, who says he’s not against President Tinubu, but his policies and governance style, has no other choice, as he’s “hungry” for power, and not for food – as he frames his messaging – like average and below-average Nigerians, and vows to sack Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
Declining the Atiku offer would’ve ruled Amaechi out of 2027 till 2031 – when power rotates to Northern Nigeria after Southern Nigeria completes its eight-year tenure (2023-2031) – to begin afresh and hope for a running mate slot, or wait for 2039 to bid for President.
Like other vaulting ambitious politicians strutting Nigeria’s political space, Amaechi merely postured when he declared pre-primary that, “I did not purchase the ADC presidential expression of interest and nomination forms to become a vice-presidential candidate” (to Atiku).
But with a body language at variance with his rhetoric, Amaechi tactically positioned himself for running mate, as he remained in the ADC that’s primed as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for Atiku to deploy for his “last presidential contest in 2027,” leaving nobody in doubt that he “owns” the party, and would secure its ticket, whatever the nature of the primary and with whomever.
Atiku had dismissed – as no match for him in any contest – his co-contenders, including Mr Amaechi; Mr Obi; ex-Kano Governor and vice-presidential candidate to Obi, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and Mr Tambuwal and former Kaduna Governor and ex-Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, both who aren’t in the picture for 2027.
In my March 23, 2026, copy, entitled, “ADC primary: Atiku to pick ticket, Obi, Amaechi scramble for running mate,” which periscoped the presidential primary of the ADC, I predicted that Atiku, regarded as the “owner” of the ADC, would secure the ticket, no matter the opposition against him. Below are excerpts from the article:
“If all things remain the same on Primary Day, as they’re now in the ADC, former Vice President and thrice presidential candidate in 2007, 2019 and 2023, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will pick the ticket of the party, which he led a coterie of chieftains of the Coalition of Opposition Politicians (COP) into, to ‘remove Tinubu from power.’
“It’s inconceivable – no matter the mode of primary: consensus, delegates or direct the ADC adopts to pick its candidate – that Atiku, who’s aspiring for a fourth shot at the presidency, will lose the ticket to any other aspirant, such as former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, or former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“Unlike in 2022 when he said he won’t step down for Tinubu, as some of the APC aspirants did, and that he won’t also endorse and campaign for him if he emerged the party candidate (and kept his avowal during campaigns and the election); Amaechi, even as he insists he won’t step down for any ADC contestant, has pledged to ‘support wholeheartedly’ the candidate who picks the ticket, ‘to ensure that Tinubu is removed from power in 2027.’
“What does Obi or Amaechi do if they miss the ADC ticket? Amaechi’s declared he’d support whoever secured the ticket ‘in a free, fair and credible primary.’ Has Obi made such a pledge? Has he decided, as many have speculated, to run with Atiku as in 2019?
“Will Obi vote with his legs, as he did in 2023, and return to the LP or join another political party, such as the newly-registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), if its major promoter and former Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Seriake Dickson (NDC, Bayelsa West), isn’t aspiring for President in 2027?
“For Atiku and Amaechi, their resolve is straightforward: They’ll compete at the primary without any inhibition. But for Obi, turning from being a candidate to placing his bets on a running mate slot that he’d lose to Amaechi or any other ADC member, maybe the toughest decision of his whirlwind presidential pursuit till date. The die is cast, and the clock is ticking uncomfortably for him!”
True to my prediction, Mr Obi didn’t only vote with his feet, but also joined the NDC, which offered him its presidential ticket, along with Dr Kwankwaso, as his running mate. Despite Amaechi protesting the outcome of the ADC primary, he stayed behind, setting his eyes on the ball to pairing Atiku for the opposition 2027 titanic battle to dislodge President Tinubu from the Presidential Villa seat of power in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
CONGRATULATIONS, and good luck to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (CRA) for “accepting” to be Atiku’s running mate, and in advance of his unveiling to the Nigerian voters!
• _Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. Can be reached on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp @EhichioyaEzomon. Tel: 08033078357_ .
