Amaechi Speaks on Serving as Atiku’s Running Mate After Losing ADC Ticket

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has refuted claims that he was offered the vice-presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following his defeat at the party’s presidential primary election.

We reported earlier that Amaechi lost the ADC 2027 presidential primary to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, the former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank, finishing in third place.

Atiku secured a landslide victory with 1,846,370 votes, claiming the Federal Capital Territory and the majority of the states. Amaechi finished second with 504,117 votes and two states, while Hayatu-Deen won a single state with 177,120 votes.

Following the announcement, both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen boycotted the party’s official declaration of results. In reaction on Tuesday, the former Rivers State governor described the figures as “concocted,” maintaining that the outcome did not reflect the transparency and values the ADC had initially pledged to uphold. Hayatu-deen also issued a statement, expressing displeasure about the primaries.

Speaking in an interview with media personality and broadcaster Chude Jideonwo, Amaechi addressed the rumours surrounding a potential joint ticket with Atiku.

On the results, Amaechi said, “Before the statement was made, there were consultations. We agreed that we should issue the statement. In fact, the final conclusion was between me and Hayatu-Deen.”

He further clarified the details of a meeting with the ADC national chairman, David Mark, dismissing speculations that he angrily rejected a vice-presidential offer during the visit.

It should be noted that before and after the primaries, there were rumours that he was urged to settle for Atiku’s running mate. However, the former governor has refuted the claims.

He said, “I went to see the national chairman of ADC. After our discussion, he walked me to the exit door, I shook his hands and I left. We discussed something different from what they wrote about.

“But people said I stormed out after he told me to run for VP. But I am not joking; nobody has ever told me to be vice-president because they know my worth and what will be my reaction.”

The former governor was visited on Thursday by Atiku, alongside several key ADC party leaders, in a direct bid aimed at reconciliation ahead of the general elections.