Eshioromeh Sebastian
Barely a week after clinching the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has narrowed his search for a running mate to three prominent opposition figures, multiple sources within the party have confirmed to Spear News.
The shortlist includes former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha. All three are from the southern part of the country, aligning with Atiku’s established pattern of picking a vice-presidential candidate from either the South-South or South-East.
Atiku secured the ADC presidential ticket on May 27, defeating Amaechi and financier Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in a primary that was boycotted by several party chieftains. Both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen have since rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities.
Now, the former vice president is racing against time to submit a joint ticket to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amaechi’s Unsettled Candidacy
Amaechi, who placed second in the ADC primary with over 500,000 votes, remains on Atiku’s list despite publicly dismissing speculation about accepting the number two position.
In a recent interview, Amaechi insisted he did not purchase the ADC presidential nomination form to settle for the vice-presidency. Yet, party insiders tell Spear News that his name continues to surface during strategy meetings.
A key challenge, according to one source, is Amaechi’s lingering resentment over the primary process. “He has not hidden his displeasure. Bringing him onto the ticket would require serious confidence-building,” the source said.
Proponents argue that Amaechi’s two-term governorship experience in Rivers State and his national profile as a former minister could help the ADC make inroads into the Niger Delta, a region where the party currently has limited structure.
Duke’s Clean Image Factor
Donald Duke, who governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007, is being considered for different reasons. Associates describe him as a “low-risk” candidate with a reputation for competence and integrity.
Duke joined the ADC in January 2026 after years of political quiet. His tenure in Calabar is still remembered for its focus on tourism, infrastructure, and fiscal discipline.
However, some within Atiku’s inner circle have raised concerns about past remarks Duke made questioning the wisdom of the former vice president’s repeated bids for the presidency. Atiku’s camp has not yet resolved whether those comments are a dealbreaker or simply old politics that can be overlooked.
Ihedioha’s South-East Advantage
Of the three names on the shortlist, Ihedioha is seen as carrying the strongest potential to energize the South-East electorate. His brief but dramatic tenure as Imo State governor ended in 2020 when the Supreme Court removed him in favour of Hope Uzodinma.
Unlike many South-East politicians who defected from the ADC to the rival Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ihedioha remained loyal. Party sources say he delivered significant bloc votes from the region during the presidential primary, earning him the former vice president’s gratitude.
Selecting Ihedioha would follow Atiku’s 2019 playbook when he picked another South-Easterner, Peter Obi, as his running mate on the PDP ticket. That ticket won 11 million votes but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari.
South-West Excluded
Notably, no politician from the South-West has made the shortlist. This mirrors Atiku’s past campaigns in 2019 and 2023, when he twice bypassed the region for his running mate.
Political analysts say the decision reflects a cold calculation: the South-West is widely viewed as President Bola Tinubu’s political base, and Atiku’s strategists may believe investing resources there yields diminishing returns.
What Happens Next
Atiku has not set a deadline for announcing his running mate, but with INEC’s clock ticking, an announcement is expected within the next two to three weeks.
Meanwhile, the former vice president has begun reaching out to his defeated primary rivals. He met privately with Hayatu-Deen in Lagos over the weekend in what sources described as a reconciliation meeting.
No such meeting has been confirmed with Amaechi, whose political future now hangs on whether he can be persuaded to accept the vice-presidential slot or will choose to walk away from the ADC entirely.
For now, the opposition coalition remains fragile. Atiku’s choice of running mate may determine whether it holds together or fractures before the 2027 campaign officially begins.
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