Pressure Mounts On Amaechi To Accept ADC Presidential Running Mate Position

Since the conclusion of the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) the presidential candidate of the party, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other stakeholders have insisted that their best bet is to pair Atiku with former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

Atiku had paid Amaechi a visit shortly after the primary soliciting his continuous support for the party.

While party stakeholders are said to be favourably disposed to the emergence of Amaechi as the running mate, Daily Trust gathered the position will not be finalised until Atiku returns from his oversea trip.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that among those considered for the position of running mate to Atiku were Amaechi, former Governor of Imo, State Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Austin Akobundu and Chief Emeka Nwajuba.

A source within the party hierarchy said the thinking of the former Vice President and the ADC leadership was that the South South, where Amaechi hails from, will better serve the interest of the coalition going into the election.

He said, “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.”

He said as it stands, many Nigerians from the geopolitical zones will vote for the candidates from their region, hence the choice of Amaechi, adding “this was also part of the consideration.”

According to him, “If nothing changes, once Atiku returns from his trip abroad, Amaechi will be unveiled and the real politicking will commence.

“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 source also told our correspondent that Amaechi’s previous role as the Director-General of the Buhari campaign Organisation before he left the APC might be an avenue to woo some aggrieved members of the party to the ADC.

Following the opposition summit in Ibadan, Oyo State, earlier, Atiku was said to be considering Governor Seyi Makinde as his running mate.

However, that did not work out as Makinde himself announced his decision to contest the presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.

Amaechi and Muhammed Hayatu-Deen contested the Presidential candidate of the ADC with Atiku Abubakar before he emerged as the winner.

Even though both politicians initially rejected the outcome of the elections citing irregularities and fraudulent allocation of figures, the party leadership seems to have resolved the impasse.(Daily trust)