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.

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has dismissed reports that he has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, insisting that he remains a committed member of the APC.

Ganduje described as false and politically motivated the posters circulating on social media alleging that he had left the ruling party.

He said, “The claims were part of a deliberate misinformation campaign aimed at misleading the public, creating confusion among APC supporters, and generating unnecessary political speculation.”

In a statement issued by his former Commissioner for Information and Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, the former Kano State governor stressed that $he has never considered leaving the APC, a party he once led as National Chairman”.

He maintained that reports linking him to the NDC lack both political and logical basis.

Ganduje further stated that the APC remains the country’s largest political party and continues to gain support under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the party’s leadership to advance the President Bola Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The former APC chairman also revealed that those responsible for producing and circulating the alleged defection posters had been identified. He warned that legal action would be taken if the materials were not withdrawn and the spread of the claims did not stop immediately.

He urged party members, supporters and the general public to disregard the posters, insisting that they do not reflect his political position or intentions.

A Kaduna-based legal practitioner, Al-zubayr Abubakar, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu has cornered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the security agencies and the judiciary.

Abubakar made the claim in an interview with JKD TV, a Kaduna-based television.

According to him, no leader, even during the era of military dictatorship and repression has ever governed the way Tinubu is currently governing, alleging that court judges, who are supposed to stand for justice, have all been brought under his influence.

The lawyer further lamented that all of Nigeria’s security agencies work for Tinubu rather than for the country.

He added that the President has crippled INEC and has it firmly under his control, stressing that it is the reason opposition parties are constantly being plunged into one problem after another.

The lawyers said, “Today, all of Nigeria’s security agencies work for Tinubu rather than for Nigeria. If I were to insult Tinubu here right now, you would immediately see the DSS and the police. They wouldn’t even stop to question you,they would simply say you had insulted the nation. Is Tinubu the nation?

“To make matters worse, the judges, who are supposed to stand for justice, have all been brought under his influence. So if you have a legal case, would you truly have the confidence to take it to court? How can the police treat opposition parties fairly?

“How can INEC be expected to act impartially? Look at what happened to the PDP. The Supreme Court delivered a judgment against the Wike faction, yet INEC continues to recognize and work with that faction. Under such circumstances, how can Nigerians have confidence that INEC will conduct a free and fair election?”