ADC Defends Silence Over Amaechi’s Atiku Running Mate Slot, Dismisses Internal Crisis Rumours

(Atiku Abubakar(R) and Rotimi Amaechi(L). Photo by BBC News)

The African Democratic Congress has dismissed growing concerns over the continued silence of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, following the party’s announcement naming him as the running mate to its 2027 presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking on an online television programme on Monday night, insisted there was no crisis within the party and questioned why Amaechi was expected to make a public statement accepting the nomination.

Responding to speculation and disquiet among some party supporters over Amaechi’s failure to personally confirm the vice-presidential slot, Abdullahi argued that it was the party’s prerogative, not the candidate’s, to formally announce such decisions, and maintained that the process leading to Amaechi’s emergence had been duly followed.

“Did you hear anybody come out to say, ‘No, it’s not true, I’m not the running mate’? The party has announced that our running mate in 2027 is His Excellency Rotimi Amaechi,” he said.

Pressed on whether Amaechi had personally consented before the announcement was made, Abdullahi declined to disclose details of internal consultations but maintained that due process was observed.

He added that both Atiku and Amaechi would be formally presented to Nigerians at the appropriate time, noting that the campaign had not yet formally commenced.

Abdullahi also used the occasion to project the ADC as a party driven by institutional processes rather than individual personalities, describing it as the only political party to have conducted a nationwide internal election involving members across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.