Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, is said to be weighing options of choosing his running mate from the South-East and South-South regions as consultations intensify over ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Multiple party sources told INNONEWS said former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, is among prominent South-East politicians being considered by Atiku’s camp as the ADC flag bearer seeks to strengthen his foothold in the South- East.
Ihedioha’s inclusion in the calculations is said to be driven largely by his longstanding political relationship with Atiku. The former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives had worked closely with the ex-vice president over the years and was among influential South-East politicians who openly backed Atiku’s presidential ambition in the build-up to the 2023 election.
In Accra, Ghana, during engagements with members of the Igbo community ahead of the 2023 polls, Ihedioha urged South-East voters to support Atiku, arguing that abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party for Peter Obi’s movement at that time could hurt the region’s political interests.
However, it remains unclear whether Ihedioha would accept a vice-presidential offer if eventually presented to him. Political associates say the former governor is widely believed to be focused on reclaiming the Imo governorship, a position he held for seven months before the Supreme Court nullified his election and installed Hope Uzodimma as governor.
Sources within the opposition coalition said Atiku’s search for a South-East running mate may also be influenced by the need to dwindle the massive influence of Peter Obi in the region. Obi, who now flies the flag of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), continues to enjoy significant support across the South-East following his strong showing in the 2023 presidential election.
But some political observers have questioned the strategic value of picking Ihedioha, arguing that he lacks the broad electoral appeal needed to significantly erode Obi’s support base. One party source familiar with the discussions said choosing the former Imo governor could prove politically costly for Atiku and the ADC.
“It will be a political blunder for Atiku to choose Ihedioha from the South-East as running mate because he does not possess the kind of mass following that can diminish Obi’s popularity in the region,” the source said. “If the objective is electoral advantage, the South-South may offer a better option.”
In the South-South, former Cross River governor, Donald Duke, is also said to be under consideration. Duke, who remains one of the region’s most recognisable political figures, is viewed by some strategists as a candidate capable of broadening Atiku’s appeal beyond traditional party structures.
The calculations, however, may be complicated by the possibility of former president Goodluck Jonathan entering the presidential race. Political analysts say Jonathan’s participation could substantially alter the electoral dynamics in the South-South, a region where he continues to command considerable goodwill.
With coalition negotiations still ongoing and no final decision announced, party insiders said Atiku is expected to continue consultations across the country before settling on a running mate in what is shaping up to be another fiercely contested presidential race.
