PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Fresh controversy has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over speculations surrounding the party’s vice-presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a prominent party chieftain, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, dismissing claims that former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, rejected an offer to serve as running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), described the claim credited to veteran journalist and ADC stalwart, Chief Dele Momodu, as speculative, misleading and capable of creating unnecessary tension within the opposition party at a time it is seeking to consolidate its ranks ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Eze insisted that Amaechi had never informed anyone, including Momodu, that he had rejected a vice-presidential offer from Atiku, stressing that the former Rivers governor had consistently maintained that no such offer had been made to him.
The ADC chieftain said political actors were entitled to their opinions during the build-up to the next general elections, but cautioned against statements capable of generating mistrust and internal divisions within the party.
“In this period of politicking ahead of the 2027 general elections, politicians, based on their interests and leanings, can say what they like in the name of politics. But the truth is that Amaechi has never told anybody, not even Dele Momodu, that he rejected the position of Vice President,” Eze stated.
According to him, Amaechi’s position from the outset had been that he purchased the ADC presidential nomination form to contest for the presidency and not for the office of Vice President.
Eze noted that the former Minister of Transportation had repeatedly stated that his political experience, achievements and credentials qualified him to seek the nation’s highest office.
He further explained that since the conclusion of the ADC presidential primary election, which produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s flag bearer, Amaechi had consistently maintained that nobody had approached him regarding the vice-presidential position.
“Where then does the statement that nobody has approached him translate to a rejection of an offer that has not even been made?” Eze queried.
While expressing respect for Momodu and his contributions to national politics, Eze said he disagreed strongly with the interpretation being given to Amaechi’s position.
He urged party members and supporters not to dissipate energy on speculative issues involving two leaders whom he described as committed democrats with a shared vision of rescuing Nigeria from its current socio-economic challenges.
“We should allow Amaechi and Atiku to continue their discussions on the best strategy to reposition Nigeria and restore confidence in democratic governance,” he said.
Eze also reflected on Amaechi’s political trajectory, arguing that the former governor had never aggressively sought public office but had consistently emerged through what he described as divine providence.
According to him, Amaechi’s rise from Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly to Governor, Minister and national political figure was evidence that political offices had often come to him rather than the other way round.
“If God decides that Amaechi will be the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no human force can stop it,” he stated.
The ADC chieftain further disclosed that he enjoys a close political relationship with both Atiku and Amaechi, describing the former Vice President as his political father and Amaechi as his political brother.
He said he would not stand by and watch any attempt to undermine what he described as a potentially transformative alliance capable of changing the fortunes of the country.
Eze maintained that the possibility of Atiku and Amaechi working together represented a significant opportunity for national renewal and warned that any effort to frustrate such collaboration could prove costly for the ADC in the 2027 elections.
The controversy followed comments made by Momodu during a television interview on June 8, 2026, in which he discussed possible political permutations within the opposition coalition and the likely outcome of ongoing consultations ahead of the next presidential election.
During the interview, Momodu remarked that, “Rotimi Amaechi said he would not accept the VP slot, so I do not know if he has changed his mind,” while analysing possible post-primary scenarios within the ADC.
However, Eze argued that the statement was merely a personal interpretation of Amaechi’s earlier position and not an accurate reflection of the former governor’s current stance.
He stressed that Amaechi’s participation in the ADC presidential primary election did not automatically disqualify him from serving in any other capacity should the party consider him suitable.
“What matters most today is having patriotic, visionary and people-oriented leaders who are prepared to reposition Nigeria on the path of economic growth, democratic stability and national rebirth,” Eze said.
