Atiku visits Amaechi amid ADC ticket crisis, holds talks on Nigeria’s woes

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar visited former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja on Thursday, as tensions continue to mount over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket.

Atiku announced the visit in a Facebook post, referring to Amaechi as “my brother and compatriot” and revealing that the two men engaged in “deep and honest conversations” regarding Nigeria’s deteriorating economic and security conditions.

“This afternoon, I visited my brother and compatriot, former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, at his Abuja residence,” Atiku wrote.

“Beyond the warmth and camaraderie, we had deep and honest conversations about the troubling state of our nation, the growing economic pain, insecurity, and the urgent responsibility on patriotic Nigerians to continue engaging in the search for solutions that can rescue our country from drift and despair.”

The former vice president also noted that he wished Amaechi a happy birthday and traded lighthearted banter over Arsenal Football Club’s recent victory.

“In true Rivers hospitality, he apologised for not having enough time to prepare Fisherman Soup, a delicacy I have now been promised on our return for the second leg,” Atiku added.

Amaechi has so far made no public comment on the meeting. The former Rivers governor declined to speak to journalists, suggesting that no reconciliation has yet been reached between the two camps over the ADC presidential contest.

A source close to Atiku, however, revealed that Amaechi remained noncommittal during the talks. “He only listened to our principal, exchanged banter with him and said he would make his decision on the ADC presidential ticket known after consulting his associates and supporters,” the source said. “He, however, assured our man that whatever decision he makes would be in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

Atiku, Amaechi, and a third aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-deen, had all vied for the ADC presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party later declared Atiku the winner, but both Amaechi and Hayatu-deen rejected the result, alleging manipulation of the process.

The dispute has deepened fractures within the opposition coalition, which had recently coalesced around the ADC as a potential platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor and ex-director-general of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns, is regarded as one of the influential political figures whose backing could determine the shape of the emerging opposition coalition.

Although no further details of Thursday’s meeting were officially released beyond Atiku’s social media post, party insiders believe the visit is part of ongoing efforts to avert further fragmentation within the ADC and to solidify support for the party ahead of the next elections.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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