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● Ignore Amaechi, focus on South Eastern ally for 2027 race following Obi’s exit from NDC
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has opened consultations for a running mate, with former Imo governor Emeka Ihedioha emerging as the frontrunner for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of 2027.
Atiku won the ADC presidential ticket on Wednesday, even as his fellow contestants Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen rejected the primaries as “neither free, fair, nor credible”. Atiku has since called on both of them to join him in “saving the country” from the ruling APC.
—South-East wildcard—
Investigations show that Atiku and key ADC allies are looking south-east for the VP slot. The region is seen as its “natural political ally” and strategically vital for 2027.
The position was reportedly reserved for Peter Obi before he left the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC. Obi was Atiku’s running mate in 2019 in the PDP but both lost to the late President Buhari. In 2023 they split, with Obi to the Labor Party and Atiku to the PDP, while Tinubu won.
Now, Ihedioha is tasked with filling that void. The former vice president and 2019 governor-elect of Imo was sworn in on May 29, 2019 but was removed by the Supreme Court in January 2020. He remained in the ADC while many South East politicians followed Obi into the NDC, and sources say he “played an important role in clearing the region” for Atiku in the recent primaries.
“He actually played an important role in ensuring that the region was handed over to the former vice president,” a senior ADC source told LEADERSHIP Sunday.
—Amaechi excluded—
Amaechi, who lost the ADC primaries, insisted on his “fabricated results” comment and said no one offered him the vice president job. The Atiku camp confirmed this.
“Of course Atiku is looking south-east for a running mate,” a source said. “Amaechi could have been considered if he had control of his region or even his state. It would have been political suicide to choose someone who may not even be able to support his protégé.”
Atiku visited Amaechi in Abuja after the primaries but, sources say, never discussed the vice president position.
—INEC Deadline Approaches—
Special Adviser to Atiku Paul Ibe told LEADERSHIP that Sunday consultations are ongoing and that ADC will meet the August 29, 2026 deadline set by INEC for the submission of presidential candidates. Ibe ruled out Amaechi but did not want to confirm or deny Ihedioha’s possibilities: “I don’t want to speculate on the other names mentioned.”
INEC sources say the timetable remains valid despite court challenges over its authority.
With Obi leading the NDC and Atiku now weighing Ihedioha in favor of the ADC, the South East is set to become the political battleground for the candidates running for office in 2027.
[Adapted/rejigged Leadership report]
