Atiku Weighs Amaechi, Ihedioha, Others For Running Mate, To Decide After Foreign Trip

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) may pick a former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as running mate to its presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

According to Daily Trust, party sources said Amaechi had emerged as a leading option among stakeholders after the conclusion of the ADC presidential primary.

Atiku had visited Amaechi shortly after the primary to seek his continued support for the party ahead of the election.

Although many stakeholders in the party were said to be favourably disposed to Amaechi’s emergence, the final decision is expected to be taken after Atiku returns from his overseas trip.

It was gathered that other names considered for the position include former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha; Senator Austin Akobundu; and Chief Emeka Nwajuba.

A source within the party said the thinking among Atiku’s camp and the ADC leadership was that picking a running mate from the South-South would better serve the interest of the coalition.

According to the source, the calculation is based on the regional spread of other major presidential candidates.

“This is because the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President Bola Tinubu, is from the South-West, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Mr Peter Obi, is from the South-East. So it is only the South-South that is without a presidential candidate from the South,” the source said.

The source added that the party believed many voters across the geopolitical zones could be influenced by regional considerations.

“If nothing changes, once Atiku returns from his trip abroad, Amaechi will be unveiled and the real politicking will commence,” the source added.

“The ADC believes Amaechi has what it takes to attract the majority of the votes from the South-South and other parts of the southern region.”

Another party source said Amaechi’s previous role as Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation could also help the ADC attract some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, left the APC before joining the ADC coalition.

Before the ADC primary, Atiku was also said to have considered Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as a possible running mate following an opposition summit in Ibadan.

However, that option reportedly fell through after Makinde declared his intention to contest the presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Amaechi and Muhammed Hayatu-Deen had contested the ADC presidential ticket with Atiku.

Although both men initially rejected the outcome of the primary, citing alleged irregularities and fraudulent allocation of figures, party leaders were said to have resolved the dispute.

Atiku eventually emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, while consultations over his running mate are expected to continue ahead of the election.