The Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum (PPAF) has accused former Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, of allegedly pressuring the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the party’s reported 2027 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to secure the vice-presidential ticket ahead of the next general election.
The group made the allegations in a statement issued on Saturday, jointly signed by Comrades Anga Fidelis, Eniafe Ayomide and Johnson Iheanacho in Abuja.
According to the Forum, Amaechi allegedly used a pending court case challenging the ADC presidential primary as leverage in negotiations over the party’s vice-presidential slot.
“Immediately after securing the running mate position, Amaechi allegedly made further demands for direct control over appointments into four strategic Federal Ministries and several key Federal Government parastatals,” the Forum claimed.
The group further alleged that Amaechi only instructed his lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, to withdraw the suit challenging the party’s primary after the alleged conditions had been met.
The PPAF did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations, and neither Amaechi, the ADC, Atiku Abubakar nor Okutepa had publicly responded to the claims as of the time of filing this report.
The Forum also questioned Amaechi’s electoral value to any presidential ticket, arguing that his political influence has diminished over the years.
“In the Nigerian political space, ambition is often couched as ‘political interest.’ But such personal interest must never be pursued to the detriment of the majority. For Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, it has always been about him alone,” the statement said.
According to the group, Amaechi has been unable to deliver electoral victories in his polling unit, ward and local government area in Rivers State in recent elections despite previously serving as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor of the state, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Minister of Transportation.
The Forum also linked Amaechi’s current political moves to his past disagreements with former President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that the fallout contributed to Jonathan’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election and weakened his political influence across the Niger Delta.
As further evidence of what it described as a pattern of pursuing personal political interests, the group cited Amaechi’s legal challenge following the 2007 Rivers State governorship election, which culminated in a landmark Supreme Court judgment declaring him governor after he had been substituted by his party before the election. The Forum argued that his subsequent legal battle over the commencement date of his tenure reflected a longstanding pursuit of personal political advantage.
The pressure group urged the ADC leadership to place the party’s long-term electoral prospects above individual political interests as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum.
“The solution is simple. If the ADC is serious and does not intend to shatter the hopes of millions of Nigerians who see the party as a breath of fresh air and hope for a new and better beginning, it has to select a credible candidate from the Southern part of the country, one who is not a political liability, but who can galvanize the votes required to win elections,” the statement added.
The allegations come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties exploring coalition arrangements aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Although discussions over potential alliances and presidential tickets have intensified in recent months, the ADC has yet to formally conclude its nomination process for the 2027 presidential election, and no official vice-presidential candidate has been announced.