2027: Rivers ADC supporters canvass Atiku/ Amaechi presidential ticket

By Ayorinde Oluokun with NAN report

Former minister Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday returned to his home state as a chieftain of opposition coalition’s African Democratic Congress, ADC with his supporters demanding that he should be part of ticket of the party for the 2027 presidential election.

Amaechi, who was also a former governor of Rivers State recently resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC after he joined the ADC.

He was received by a large crowd of his supporters donning the uniform of his new party at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

While addressing his supporters, Amaechi emphasized the need to ensure that that the end of culture of electoral malpractice in Rivers. He also affirmed that the notorious culture of “writing results” must not be allowed to repeat itself.

The former Rivers State Governor also said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be voted out of office in 2027 while vowing that the next general elections won’t be business as usual in Rivers.

However, New Agency reports that some of the party members who were at the airport to welcome them expressed optimistic that former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will pair for the 2027 presidential ticket.

They said that they were at the airport to welcome Amaechi alongside other party stalwarts for an official lunch of the party in the state.

Mr Tele Bathram, a former governorship aspirant in the 2023 general elections said he is optimistic of the party’s victory if Amaechi and Atiku fly the party’s flag.

Bathram said that the party had put necessary measures in place to take over the 23 local area councils and claim total victory at the grassroots.

He described ADC as a strong coalition of politicians from the opposition parties and dissatisfied members of the ruling party.

He said that the aim of the coalition was to reposition the country’s political landscape.

Mr Christian Akujiobi, an ADC supporter, said that since the emergence of the present administration, citizens, especially in Rivers, have suffered so much deprivation.

Akujiobi said that ADC stands as the only option with which the state could reclaim its glory and urged residents to rally support for the party.

However, Mr Williams Ndamiete, a Port Harcourt resident said that the journey of taking over Rivers by the ADC had been mared by distrust.

“Amaechi has lost support here in Rivers; he can no longer be taken seriously anymore; he abandoned his supporters while chasing national relevance.

“He may see a rented crowd welcoming him today but not committed followers because those ones have moved on,” he said.

Amaechi, ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi and the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party are the three members of APC that have declared intention to contest the 2027 presidency under the platform of the party.