Atiku Running Mate: How Okonjo-Iweala Was Considered Before Amaechi Emerged
By: Abudu Olalekan
A choice that seemed straightforward at first glance actually carried hidden layers. Though the African Democratic Congress now lines up behind Rotimi Amaechi beside Atiku Abubakar, those close to the process whisper otherwise. Behind closed doors, debates stretched longer than outsiders might guess. What appears settled on paper stirred quiet tensions earlier. Not every voice within agreed easily. The path forward emerged only after hushed talks and second thoughts. Even clear outcomes sometimes grow from tangled roots.
From the start, talks had been unfolding – hushed conversations slipped between closed doors. Not everything showed at once; some pieces shifted just before light hit. A handful of adjustments came late, almost unseen. Stillness hid motion until it couldn’t.
A handful of Atiku’s inner circle reportedly urged placing someone from the South-East into the deputy role. Word from behind closed doors at the ADC suggests they saw it as more than just balance – a bold signal before 2027 demanded weighty regional representation. The logic wasn’t buried under layers; strength in symbolism meant choosing a prominent name rooted firmly in that part of Nigeria.
A few individuals got mentioned as talks moved forward. One was Senator Ben Obi, whose name surfaced early. Then came Emeka Ihedioha, once leader of Imo State. Another figure entered later – Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ex-finance minister. She now leads the World Trade Organisation.
A voice from inside that group mentioned how they saw things – because Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential pick, wasn’t running alongside Atiku, the ADC felt it had to find someone else from the South-East who might draw support there.
It was there that reports say people began noticing Okonjo-Iweala’s name.
Right after her birthday events, people close to the group say a team arrived, guided by a well-known ADC leader from the North-East. On the surface, it seemed just like a friendly stop to mark the occasion. Behind closed doors, though, those in the know claim they talked about a potential second-in-command role.
A man once high up in the Peoples Democratic Party led the group. At one time he moved close to the All Progressives Congress too. His past ties ran across both major parties. Leadership came naturally after years inside political circles. People recognized him from earlier roles in government affairs.
From what someone close to the talks shared, Okonjo-Iweala held back on making any clear promise. Listening carefully to the idea came first, then she suggested reaching out to many people throughout Nigeria before settling on an answer.
“The choice of Amaechi was not as straightforward as many people think,” the source said.
Right away, Amaechi stood out – his strong showing in the primary made him an obvious pick, backed by real weight among southern leaders. Yet others argued that choosing someone from the South-East might shift things, bringing broader reach and better alignment across regions.
“That was why the idea of bringing in Okonjo-Iweala came up.”
Later, once Okonjo-Iweala seemed less likely, talk shifted elsewhere. A different figure surfaced. That was Senator Liyel Imoke. He once led Cross River State. His ties to Atiku run deep, built over years. Mention of him began to spread.
Some inside sources say Imoke had backing from key players hoping he’d boost the ADC’s reach in the South-South. Not everyone agreed, yet his name kept coming up. A few saw him as a bridge, others weren’t so sure. His ties to the region played a role in that thinking. Quiet talks pointed to him more than once. Support wasn’t universal, but interest stayed steady.
Yet talks dragged on, prompting whispers of high-level intervention within the party. With tensions simmering, top members made their stance clear – months of infighting over a vice-presidential pick were out of the question. Fresh off a hard-fought primary race, time for division had run thin.
Back then, word spread the elders urged the leaders not to choose paths splitting people further or sparking new grudges. Soon after came quiet warnings about moves that might stir old tensions anew.
Later on, things shifted just enough to let Amaechi move forward.
Some within the party viewed Amaechi, once leader of Rivers State and later a federal minister, as steadier compared to others. Though he ran in the primary, it wasn’t just that – his presence stretched through southern regions. Behind closed doors, his name kept surfacing. Party figures had long included him in their quiet planning. Not flashy, yet always there.
Midway through the talks, word came that Atiku kept reaching out to Amaechi regularly. That steady line of communication turned out to ease how things unfolded in the end.
“Atiku never really lost touch with Amaechi while all these talks were going on,” the source said.
“So when the party finally returned to Amaechi, it did not create much difficulty. The groundwork had already been done.”
Right now, the ADC frames it as everyone agreeing. Yet people close by note the pick came down to cold math – spreading influence across areas, extending power networks, steering clear of fresh party fights ahead of 2027.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
