Group Tells Atiku: Drop Amaechi, Pick Igbo Running Mate Or Prepare To Lose 2027 Election
The Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum (SPPAF) says former Vice President Atiku Abubakar must pick an Igbo Running Mate or prepare to lose the 2027 presidential election again.
SPPAF warns that choosing former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi will undermine the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s electoral prospects.
Amaechi is from the South-South Zone and was Rivers State Governor.
In a statement jointly signed by Johnson Iheanacho, Eniafe Ayomide and Anga Fidelis, the group maintained Atiku choosing Amaechi for the VP ticket had unsettled many supporters of the coalition, who feared the move could weaken the momentum built since the opposition rallied around the ADC.
The forum said the opposition coalition must avoid what it described as a “costly political miscalculation” by overlooking the South-East, insisting that the region offers credible political leaders capable of broadening the coalition’s appeal while addressing longstanding concerns over equity and inclusion.
According to SPPAF, the coalition has revived hopes among Nigerians seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing together influential political figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
The group, however, argued that sustaining that momentum would require a running mate capable of expanding the coalition’s electoral reach rather than one whose political influence, it claimed, has diminished.
It also recalled Amaechi’s criticisms of Atiku during the ADC presidential primary, noting that the former minister had questioned Atiku’s electoral viability and publicly distanced himself from suggestions that he could become his running mate.
SPPAF further contended that Amaechi no longer commands sufficient political capital in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta to deliver significant electoral advantage to the opposition.
The forum also referred to reports alleging that Amaechi had sought considerable influence over appointments and strategic government agencies in the event of an opposition victory.
While acknowledging that the reports remain unverified, it urged Atiku to ensure that any discussions over the composition of a future administration are guided by competence and national interest.
Making a direct case for the South-East, the group argued that selecting a vice-presidential candidate from the region would not only strengthen the ADC’s electoral calculations but also demonstrate a commitment to national inclusion and balanced representation.
SPPAF maintained that the success of the opposition in 2027 would depend as much on the strategic value of the vice-presidential candidate as on the popularity of its presidential flag bearer.
According to the group, Atiku’s choice of Amaechi could coalition’s support base and inadvertently improve President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term.
