Atiku Picks Amaechi as 2027 Running Mate
Barring any last‑minute change, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly selected ex‑Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The decision follows a closed‑door meeting between the two leaders in Abuja on Monday, June 8, which intensified speculation about the ADC’s vice‑presidential choice ahead of the 2027 polls.
Political analysts view Atiku’s pick of Amaechi as a strategic move to widen the ADC’s national reach and to counter the rival ticket formed by former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and ex‑Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on the Nigeria Democratic Congress platform.
The pairing has been dubbed an “AA” ticket, with Atiku hailing from the North‑East and Amaechi representing the South‑South, suggesting a balanced geographic spread.
Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor, had previously stated that he was not interested in the vice‑presidential slot after purchasing and returning his ₦90 million presidential nomination form. He also dismissed calls for a consensus arrangement, insisting on a direct primary.
According to sources cited by The Guardian, Amaechi later accepted the offer after pressure and appeals from influential political figures in the North‑West and South‑South regions.
A close ally of Amaechi said Atiku assured him that the vice‑presidential nominee would play a substantial role both in the campaign and in a potential ADC administration.
The development marks a shift from Atiku’s approach before the 2023 election, when he declined to pick former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, who finished second in the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary.
Prior to the announcement, ADC chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze rebutted comments by party stalwart Dele Momodu, claiming that Amaechi’s earlier remarks only indicated that no formal approach had been made for the running‑mate position. Eze urged the party to avoid needless speculation that could weaken the ADC ahead of the election.
In a separate statement on Democracy Day, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu‑led APC administration of undermining the spirit of June 12, warning that democratic backsliding, intimidation, and the weakening of opposition platforms threaten Nigeria’s democratic gains.
He urged Nigerians to defend democratic freedoms, reject politics that silences opposition, and recall the sacrifices of pro‑democracy activists, journalists, labour leaders, students, and ordinary citizens.
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