Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, is expected to head the presidential campaign organisation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election, as plans gather momentum within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to present a united opposition front.
The development comes amid indications that Amaechi is also being considered as Atiku’s running mate for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Sources familiar with discussions within the ADC said the decision to position Amaechi as Director-General of the presidential campaign organisation forms part of Atiku’s broader plan to introduce reforms to the Presidency and establish what allies describe as a more collaborative style of governance if elected.
According to a source close to the discussions, Amaechi’s experience as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s successful 2015 presidential campaign, which led to the historic defeat of an incumbent president, played a major role in the decision.
The source disclosed that one of the key factors that persuaded Amaechi to consider the vice-presidential role was Atiku’s promise to give him substantial responsibilities both during the campaign and in a future administration.
The source, a former ranking senator and ambassador, said Atiku believes Nigeria’s presidency requires urgent reforms, particularly in defining the role of the vice president.
“From President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua through Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and even in the last three years under President Bola Tinubu, the imperfections of the Nigerian presidency have become increasingly evident,” the source said.
According to him, Atiku believes the Nigerian vice president should play a more active role in governance, similar to arrangements in other presidential systems where responsibilities are more clearly defined.
“Atiku believes that while the United States presidency assigns clear constitutional roles to the vice president, the Nigerian vice president often serves at the discretion of the president. In the absence of constitutional provisions assigning direct responsibilities, he wants to build a partnership presidency, with Amaechi taking charge of key functions,” the source added.
The source noted that Atiku’s position is influenced partly by his own experience as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where cooperation between both leaders later deteriorated into political rivalry.
“Atiku wants to turn that sad and sour experience into the benefit of his running mate, to ensure that fears and suspicions that often create tension between presidents and vice presidents do not arise.
“He wants to be the president who acknowledges that the office is one big room with two big doors. This is why he said he wants to demonstrate that the vice president should neither be a spare tyre nor a tea server,” the source stated.
Further details indicate that former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, may serve as Deputy Director-General of the proposed Atiku-Amaechi Presidential Campaign Organisation.
According to the source, the formal announcement of the vice-presidential candidate and campaign structure is expected in the coming days.
“When the vice-presidential candidate is officially unveiled and the campaign organisation is constituted, Nigerians will see how prepared the former vice president is to rescue the country and strengthen the foundation for a true presidential system,” the source said.
The planned arrangement aligns with proposals earlier outlined by a member of the ADC Policy Committee, Dr. Salihu Lukman, who disclosed that the party was considering a collegiate system of governance aimed at reducing the winner-takes-all approach that has characterised previous administrations.
Lukman said some of the proposed policy reforms would strengthen the role of party leadership in guiding both the executive and legislative arms of government.
Meanwhile, Senator Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed Amaechi’s recent claim that he was responsible for Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as president in 2015.
Speaking during an appearance on The Mic On Podcast, the Edo North senator argued that Amaechi could not take sole credit for Buhari’s victory and alleged that the former Rivers State governor did not even vote during the election.
According to Oshiomhole, Amaechi was politically constrained by the influence of his successor as governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, at the time.
He claimed that Amaechi instructed his supporters in Rivers State to boycott the election.
“Amaechi lied that he made Buhari president. He was not able to vote for Buhari in 2015 because he unwisely directed the people of Rivers to boycott the polls as he was overwhelmed by the forces of Wike,” Oshiomhole said.
The remarks followed Amaechi’s recent interview on Arise Television, where the former minister asserted that he, rather than President Bola Tinubu, played the decisive role in securing Buhari’s victory in the 2015 presidential election.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions and competing narratives over the formation of the coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential contest, as opposition figures continue to position themselves ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive election cycle.
