Atiku Weighs Amaechi, Dele Momodu As Running Mate

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has intensified consultations within his political base over the choice of a running mate.

Atiku is expected to name his running mate in the coming weeks as political parties prepare to submit candidates’ details to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Naija News reports that the development came as Atiku on Monday hosted former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who contested against him in the ADC presidential primary.

Amaechi had expressed reservations over the conduct of the ADC primary, which Atiku won after polling 1,846,370 votes.

Atiku had earlier visited Amaechi at his Abuja residence about two weeks ago in what his media team described as a meeting between two opposition figures working together to rescue Nigeria from poor governance under President Bola Tinubu.

Sources who spoke with Punch said Amaechi’s visit on Monday may be linked to Atiku’s earlier consideration of either Peter Obi or the former Rivers governor as running mate before Amaechi obtained the ADC presidential nomination form.

‘Atiku Rates Amaechi Highly’

A highly placed source said Atiku viewed Amaechi as a strong political figure with the visibility and popularity needed for the 2027 presidential race.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Atiku would only look elsewhere if Amaechi declined to run on a joint ticket with him.

The source said, “These people will never come out to tell you what they discussed behind closed doors, but Atiku has identified Amaechi as a politician with the required visibility and popularity to prosecute the 2027 presidential election.

“The reason for this is not far-fetched. In the recently concluded ADC primaries, Atiku won in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Delta States. A joint ticket featuring Atiku and Amaechi will give Tinubu sleepless nights.”

Momodu Also Considered

The source added that a group loyal to Atiku had identified journalist and politician, Dele Momodu, as another possible running mate.

According to the source, the group sees Momodu as loyal, reliable and unlikely to cause political tension if Atiku wins the election.

The source said, “This may come as a bit of a surprise to many, but this group sees Amaechi as a strong-headed person capable of causing problems in the future.

“In Momodu, they believe Atiku will have a reliable, loyal and committed ally whose job will be to work for the nation and his principal. This group does not see Momodu as a core politician but as a man who will stop at nothing to work in the furtherance of the agenda of his principal and of the country at large.”

Although Momodu has yet to confirm the development, a post on his Facebook page on Monday sparked reactions among Nigerians.

Momodu wrote, “The 2027 presidential election is expected to be a major fight between President Bola Tinubu and his biggest challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It promises to be the battle of the titans.

“A third force, hopefully, may show up, as it did in 2023, but not with enough firepower and tenacity to upstage and obliterate the two elder statesmen.

“This is why it has become pertinent and urgent for our dear party ADC to change the traditional way of playing politics by becoming a link between the old and modern, conservative and cosmopolitan tendencies, veteran politicians and technocrats in government. There’s no better combination than this duo, assuring a colourful blend. The North and the South will reunite in a game of ethnic and religious rivalries.”