Public affairs analyst Summer Sambo has suggested that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, may choose his running mate from Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone ahead of the 2027 general election.
Sambo made the assertion on Monday while speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he analysed recent political developments following party primary elections across the country.
According to him, several political indicators point towards the possibility of Atiku selecting a vice-presidential candidate from the South-East, a region he described as one of the former vice president’s strongest support bases in the South.
“The signs around Atiku’s choice of running mate suggest that he is likely to look towards the South-East. Historically, the region has been one of his political strongholds,” Sambo said.
He noted that Atiku’s previous selections reflected strategic regional considerations, recalling that the former vice president chose Peter Obi as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election and later selected Ifeanyi Okowa for the same role in 2023.
Sambo argued that a return to the South-East for the vice-presidential slot could be part of a broader political strategy aimed at weakening Peter Obi’s influence in the region ahead of the 2027 polls.
“His move to the South-East may be designed to reduce Peter Obi’s political dominance in that part of the country,” he added.
The analyst’s remarks come shortly after the ADC concluded its presidential primary, where Atiku emerged as the party’s flag bearer after defeating former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Political observers are expected to closely monitor Atiku’s next moves as discussions around possible running mates and regional alliances begin to shape the race towards the 2027 presidential election.
