Former Minister of Transportation and prospective vice presidential nominee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chibuike Amaechi, is set to head the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organization. This decision is part of Abubakar's plans to deliver a reformed presidency if elected in the January 16, 2027, presidential poll.
Amaechi's Role in the Campaign
According to a reliable source, Amaechi was considered for the job of steering Atiku's campaigns due to his experience in a similar position when he delivered Muhammadu Buhari in the historic defeat of incumbent Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election. The source, a former ranking senator and ambassador, disclosed that having observed the tenuous relationships between various presidents and their deputies after leaving office in 2007, Atiku believes Nigeria's presidency is due for urgent reforms.
The source stated: "From President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua through Jonathan and Buhari, the last three years under Bola Tinubu have exposed the imperfections of the Nigerian Presidency. Atiku believes that while the United States Presidency assigns clear constitutional roles to the VP, its Nigerian counterpart is made to serve according to the whims of the President. So, in absence of such constitutional stipulations that assign direct responsibilities to the VP, Atiku wants to forge a partnership presidency, with Amaechi taking charge of key functions."
Atiku's Vision for the Vice Presidency
The former vice president is thinking of planned changes based on his experience during President Olusegun Obasanjo's second term, when cooperation gave way to friction and confrontation. "Atiku wants to turn that sad and sour experience into the benefit of his running mate, to ensure that fears and suspicions that give rise to an adversarial relationship between the President and the vice do not arise," the source added. "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 show by example how the VP should not be either a spare tyre or a tea-server."
Tambuwal Likely as Deputy Campaign Director
The Guardian also learned that former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, who would have been chosen as Amaechi's running mate, will likely serve as the Deputy Director-General of the Atiku/Amaechi Presidential Campaign Organisation. "When the VP is officially named this coming week and by the time 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 hinted.
ADC's Collegiate System of Administration
A member of the ADC Policy Committee, Dr. Salihu Lukman, had disclosed that the party was planning a collegiate system of administration to avoid a winner-takes-all tendency that has been the bane of successive presidencies. Lukman pointed out that some of the policy reviews envisaged by the ADC would ensure that party leadership stands strong as a guide to the executive and legislature.
Oshiomhole Disputes Amaechi's Claim
However, contrary to Amaechi's claim that he made the late Muhammadu Buhari president, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) has said Amaechi did not even vote for Buhari in 2015. Oshiomhole, who spoke in an interview on 'The Mic On Podcast', said the ADC chieftain could not vote because he was "overwhelmed" by the influence of his successor as governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. According to the lawmaker, Amaechi, who served as the Director-General of Buhari's campaign, instructed his supporters in Rivers to boycott the election. He said: "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."
Amaechi had claimed in an interview on Arise TV that it was he, not Tinubu, who made Buhari president in 2015.
