ADC Primary: Amaechi rejects Obi’s plea to support him

Ahead of 2027 general election primaries across political parties, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has rejected plea by Peter Obi to shelve his ambition and support him.

CAPITAL POST gathered that Obi pleaded with Amaechi to support him at a meeting in Amaechi’s residence over the weekend in Abuja

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Amaechi, a former governor of oil-rich Rivers State in the South South Nigeria was also a former Minister of Transportation in the late Muhammadu Buhari administration. He is a presidential aspirant in the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Meanwhile, those who have shown their interest to contest presidency in the ADC are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from Adamawa State in the Northeast Nigeria, Peter Obi from Anambra State in the Southeast and Rotimi Amaechi in the Southsouth.
The battle for presidential primary ticket is heightening by the day amid crisis of leadership rocking the ADC which is currently being led by Senator David Bonaventure Mark.

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Obi and Amaechi have repeatedly said they would not serve as running mates in 2027.

Primaries have been scheduled between April 23 and May 30 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which was mandatory for all political parties to carry out the exercise as scheduled.

Over the weekend, Peter Obi was said to have been accompanied by the former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Victor Umeh and few other respected party leaders to the Chief Rotimi Amaechi’s residence to seek support for Obi’s presidential ticket.

The source, however, said the former minister “politely rejected the request of the former presidential candidate”, noting that his decision to contest the presidential election was serious and not mere grandstanding.

A social media video emerged showing Amaechi, Obi, Umeh and Udenwa exchanging pleasantries outside the Abuja residence of the former transportation minister.

Further inquiries through a text message to Udenwa and Umeh for confirmation of their visit to Amaechi’s residence were unsuccessful.

Meanwhi, e a long time ally of Rotimi Amaechi confided to journalists that Amaechi was not ready to step down his presidential ambition for anyone, noting that if he loses primaries, he would support the winner.

“I am not aware of such a meeting. Even if such a meeting was held, it has nothing to do with Amaechi’s aspiration to govern this nation.

“The only thing I know is that Amaechi is of the opinion that if he loses the ADC presidential ticket, he will support and even direct the campaign organisation of such a winner.

“In other words, if he wins, he expects the losers to also support him accordingly. As of now, Amaechi is not stepping down for anybody,” he added.

Also, Obi’s media aide, Dr Valentine Obienyem, said he was not aware of the visit but promised to find out from his principal and respond to the report. He had yet to revert as of press time.

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