Atiku Abubakar, former vice president of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has visited former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi following the outcome of the ADC presidential primary. The visit comes after Atiku defeated Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the party's primary election, securing the ADC ticket for the 2027 general elections.
Background of the ADC Primary
Before the primary, Amaechi had vowed to defeat Atiku, citing his contributions to the nation and the need for the ADC to field a southern candidate. Both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen have rejected the primary results that produced Atiku as the party's flagbearer.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
Atiku's visit to Amaechi has generated mixed reactions, with many Nigerians believing it does not guarantee Amaechi's support in the 2027 election. Below are some comments:
Olamidipupo recalled how President Bola Tinubu visited Amaechi after defeating him in the APC presidential primary, but Amaechi still worked against Tinubu in the 2023 election: "Tinubu visited him too immediately after the primary, but ego and overrated himself make @ChibuikeAmaechi still work against PBAT. I can bet that he will still work against Atiku."
Hon Nuhu Sada commended Atiku for the visit: "This is what unity and maturity in leadership look like. Nigeria needs strong alliances, mutual respect, and a shared vision to rescue the nation from hardship and bad governance. The movement for 2027 is getting stronger day by day."
Naijaphoenix1 said the ADC coalition was designed to secure the ticket for Atiku: "The concept of the ADC coalition from the outset was clearly in sight, and aimed at giving Atiku Abubakar the ticket, not Rotimi Amaechi. They wanted to play a fast one on Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, but they saw the signs, and disembarked to the NDC before becoming victims of their wonders."
Uncle Agba projected Amaechi working against Atiku, calling the former vice president too greedy: "Amaechi will still do him dirtier than Wike did in 2023. Atiku is too greedy and self-centred. He's always frustrating every effort to save Nigeria, always putting his personal interests and ambitions above everything else with bribery. He can never be President of Nigeria."
Political Implications
The visit highlights the ongoing political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku's move to reach out to Amaechi is seen by some as an attempt to unify the opposition, while others view it as a futile effort given past betrayals. The ADC primary has exposed deep divisions within the party, and it remains to be seen whether Atiku can consolidate support from all factions.
