By Editor
In May, days before the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, brushed aside suggestions that he could emerge as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
In an interview with Daily Trust, aired on May 19, Amaechi was asked whether he would embrace a consensus arrangement and subsequently accept the role of vice-presidential candidate.
At the time, Amaechi was contesting the ADC presidential primary alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank.
However, Amaechi, who was visibly incensed by the question, admonished the interviewer not to broach the subject again.
“Would you stop that nonsense? Stop that,” Amaechi said.
“I didn’t buy a form to be vice-president. Don’t you ever say it. This interview is about the presidency. If you want to interview a vice-president, can I step down so I can get vice-presidential aspirants?”
About a week later, Atiku would go on to clinch the ADC presidential ticket.
He secured 1,846,370 votes to defeat Amaechi, who garnered 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen came a distant third with 177,120 votes.
Amaechi rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice during the exercise.
But on Monday, the former Rivers governor made a volte-face when the ADC named him as Atiku’s running mate for the forthcoming general election.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesperson, announced the decision in a statement, saying the ADC picked Amaechi after “extensive consultations with party leaders, coalition partners, youth and women stakeholders, and representatives of all geopolitical zones”.
He said as one of Nigeria’s “most experienced and respected political leaders”, Amaechi enjoys “widespread support from party members across the federation”.
Abdullahi said the “proposed partnership” between Atiku and Amaechi is the “coming together of two tested statesmen with the experience, national reach, and leadership capacity required to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges and reposition the country for a new era of prosperity, security, and inclusive development”.
“Amaechi brings to this ticket one of the most extensive public service records in contemporary Nigerian politics. His experience spans all major pillars of democratic governance,” he said.
Abdullahi added that Amaechi’s vast experience across both the executive and legislative arms of government makes him particularly well-suited to serve as Atiku’s running mate.
