A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has dismissed a recent call by the Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum urging former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, not to be considered as the running mate to ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2027 election.
Eze described the group’s position as politically motivated, alleging that the organisation was being used as a vehicle to campaign against Amaechi ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Eze questioned the credibility of what he described as a “faceless” organisation, arguing that the group had not demonstrated any clear mandate to speak on behalf of the South or determine the choice of running mate for the ADC presidential candidate.
According to him, the decision on who becomes Atiku’s running mate remains an internal matter for the ADC and its presidential candidate, and should not be dictated by external pressure groups.
Eze further alleged that the latest criticism of Amaechi was part of what he described as a sustained political campaign against the former governor, particularly by supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He said the repeated focus on Amaechi by his political opponents contradicted claims that the former Rivers governor had become politically irrelevant.
“Those who claim that Amaechi is politically irrelevant are the same people who continue to make him the subject of their political campaigns,” Eze said, arguing that the former governor’s continued prominence in political discussions demonstrated the significance attached to his possible role in the 2027 opposition coalition.
Eze also defended Amaechi’s political record, citing his tenure as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor of Rivers State, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Director-General of the 2015 presidential campaign and former Minister of Transportation.
He argued that Amaechi’s political profile should not be assessed solely through the prism of Rivers State politics, insisting that his experience in national politics makes him relevant to discussions about the composition of a presidential ticket.
On the question of electoral strength, Eze maintained that presidential elections are determined by a combination of factors, including political alliances, candidate appeal, organisation and public confidence, rather than by the influence of a single individual or political structure.
He accused those opposing Amaechi’s possible emergence as Atiku’s running mate of attempting to influence a decision that constitutionally and politically belongs to the ADC and its presidential candidate.
Eze said the ADC should be allowed to make its choice without what he described as “blackmail, intimidation or sponsored media campaigns,” adding that the party would ultimately be judged by the ticket it presents to Nigerians.
The ADC chieftain also criticised Wike over what he described as an alleged preoccupation with Amaechi, saying the minister should remain focused on his responsibilities in the Federal Capital Territory.
He urged Nigerians to scrutinise the identities, interests and claims of groups making political interventions ahead of the 2027 election, rather than accepting their statements as representative of broader regional opinion.
Eze maintained that no campaign against Amaechi would determine the ADC’s eventual decision, insisting that the former governor’s political future would be determined by the party, its leadership and the electorate.
He further expressed confidence in the political prospects of an Atiku-led ADC ticket, stating that efforts by opponents to prevent a possible Atiku-Amaechi combination would not, in his view, alter the direction of the opposition ahead of 2027.
“Political decisions should be made by political parties and their candidates, not by anonymous pressure groups,” Eze stated.
