2027: Choice of Amaechi as running mate will cost Atiku presidential victory – Analysts

Public affairs and political analysts from Southern Nigeria have faulted the emergence of former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi as running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, in the 2027 presidential election.

DAILY POST reports that Amaechi, who ran the ADC presidential primary with Atiku, was recently picked as the running mate for the country’s former vice president. 

Amaechi’s emergence has stirred mixed reactions among ADC supporters. 

Recently, the newly appointed spokesman for Atiku, a Nollywood actor turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, condemned the choice of Amaechi for the position.

On their part, public affairs analysts, all from Southern Nigeria, Johnson Iheanacho, Eniafe Ayomide, and Anga Fidelis, in a statement on Friday said the former minister of transportation would cost the ex-VP a chance of emerging victorious in the coming 2027 election. 

“This begs the question. Is Atiku Abubakar aware of the massive hope many Nigerians from the six geopolitical zones of the country have invested in his aspiration? Does Atiku actually want to win the 2027 presidential elections, or, as Amaechi had quipped, does he just want to emerge as a party candidate again and lose to Tinubu at the general elections as a serial loser he has become? These are probing and germane questions.

“If it is true that Atiku finally zeroed in on Amaechi as his running mate, because the process of choosing a running mate is not yet concluded in the electoral umpire’s timetable, then it is a clear indication that all that Amaechi said about Atiku could be true and he is gambling with Nigerians’ hope and future. But this is bigger than Atiku and the ADC, and that is why we deemed it fit to air our concerns, especially if Atiku still desires to have Amaechi as his running mate. He should be reminded of the fact that resides fully in the public domain.

“With all due respect, maybe Atiku, even though he is a pan-Nigerian who has businesses, friends, associates, and ties across the South West, South East, and South-South sides of the country, may not be fully abreast with the political reality in the Niger Delta region where Amaechi is from. As of today, Amaechi is a political liability, and it is a statement of fact that he cannot win his ward in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. When you can’t deliver your ward, how do you deliver your LGA and ultimately the state?

“The majority of Nigerians are in unison that Tinubu must go next year, but it won’t be easy, and all hands and boots must be on deck. Based on the dynamics of Nigerian politics, Atiku is expected to garner large support and votes from the North. While focusing on that goal, should he be distracted by an Amaechi who cannot deliver one state in the 8 states that made up the Niger Delta region he is from? He cannot even deliver the required 25% constitutional votes. If Amaechi could not do it in eight states, is it the 17 states in the Southern part of the country, South-South (six states), South-West (six states), and South-East (five states) that he would deliver? Let’s call it what it is, mission impossible,” they stated.