The southern political progressives amalgamation forum (sppaf) has urged the leadership of the african democratic congress (adc) to exercise caution over reports of a possible presidential ticket involving former vice president atiku abubakar and former rivers governor rotimi amaechi. the forum made the call in a statement issued on sunday and signed by its convener:onvener, Bright Menget, and Strategic Director, Abasi Jonathan.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the group emphasized the importance of thorough due diligence in selecting candidates and running mates ahead of future elections. Their advice is based on previous judicial decisions affecting election outcomes, particularly where issues related to the qualification or documentation of candidates and their running mates led to litigation. The forum referenced the 2020 Supreme Court judgment in the Bayelsa State governorship election involving former APC candidate David Lyon, suggesting that political parties should learn from such cases by ensuring legal compliance during the nomination process.
SPPAF expressed the view that the ADC should prioritize candidates capable of withstanding legal scrutiny to avoid post-election disputes. They advised the party’s leadership to carefully consider all political and legal implications before finalizing any presidential ticket, as this would help safeguard the party’s electoral prospects and institutional credibility. The forum also urged political parties to strengthen their internal screening processes and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the ADC on the forum’s position were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ADC has confirmed that the names of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, have been uploaded to the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement posted on X, describing the submission as another milestone in the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.