Barely 24 hours after the former transportation minister, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, was officially named the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), two publicists, Mr Chude Jideonwo and Mr Ozioma Ubabukoh, are being recommended to manage the Atiku/Amaechi presidential campaign.

The Guardian learnt that while Jideonwo, a long-term ally of the former Rivers State governor, played similar roles when he (Amaechi) served as the Director-General of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, some highly placed stakeholders are pushing Ubabukoh to bring in the core strategy and lobbying vibe to the ADC presidential campaign.

Jideonwo, alongside Debola Williams, superintended the Red Media, which oversaw the new media content messaging and development during the All Progressives Congress (APC) debut on the presidential ballot in 2015.

However, both parted ways shortly afterwards to pursue individual interests, leaving Red Media in the hands of a managing director they employed.

Ubabukoh, who runs Plexus, served as spokesperson to former Education Minister, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, as well as her media consultant during her presidential contest in the 2023 poll.

Those propping Ubabukoh contend that apart from being well spoken, his touch with the Gen Z content creators and media practitioners through the various social media platforms would be a huge asset to the AA presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, sources within the ADC presidential circles confided in The Guardian that the VP-nominee convinced his principal, Atiku, that something refreshing has to be done around media management of the ADC ticket, stressing that the credibility of the ticket may be hampered if left in the hands of tricky operatives.

Consequently, “Atiku’s former spokesman became incensed and was livid with rage. The decision to do away with the former Nollywood legend was yet to be resolved before news filtered in that he had quit,” the source explained.

Checks by The Guardian showed that shortly after the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, announced Amaechi as the presidential running mate, Atiku’s former spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, protested the marginalisation of the South East in the scheme of things in the party.

In a post on his X, Okonkwo, who is facing multiple court cases for defamation, stated: “I heard from social media that ADC has picked its vice-presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.

“I did not join the coalition to assist in the marginalisation of my own people further. I think that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it would amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.”

In the meantime, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi, has explained that Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries as well as his track record of service to his State and the country.

According to the ADC, Amaechi’s extensive experience across both the legislative and executive arms of government, as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Transportation, makes him uniquely qualified to complement Atiku’s leadership, strengthen the party’s national appeal, and bolster its campaign to offer Nigerians an experienced and credible alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.