Ex-Governor Tops List as Fresh Details on Atiku’s Search for Running Mate Emerge
Following his victory at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election, where he secured the ticket with over 1.8 million votes against Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has launched a nationwide consultations to select his vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Political analysts describe the composition of this joint ticket as the most critical decision currently facing the campaign, and sources close to the former vice president confirm that the search is active, fluid, and personally directed by Atiku across stakeholders in the southern part of the country.
A former governor is currently topping the list as the selection process focuses heavily on the South-South and South-East geo-political zones.
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, who joined the ADC in January 2026, has emerged as a prominent choice due to his clean political record, institutional credibility, and low negative rating among the Southern electorate, though campaign loyalists are still navigating past remarks he made questioning Atiku’s repeated presidential bids.
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who finished second in the primary, also remains on the selection matrix despite his public complaints regarding the primary process, with supporters noting his established Niger Delta credentials and national profile.
Simultaneously, the search is directed toward the South-East to tap into the zone’s voter mobilization capacity. Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha is leading the considerations from this region, as Atiku’s allies view him as a figure who retains deep goodwill within the South-East political establishment and carries minimal political liabilities at the national level.
This geopolitical pattern closely mirrors Atiku’s previous campaigns, such as his selection of Peter Obi in 2019 and Ifeanyi Okowa in 2023, signaling a clear strategy to anchor his 2027 running mate choice within the South-South or South-East corridors while bypassing the South-West for the vice-presidential slot.
