BARELY one week after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) announced the former Transport Minister, barrister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as its Vice-Presidential candidate, the decision has continued to unsettle the party.

Checks revealed that party chieftain loyal to the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and supporters of the Vice-Presidential nominee are quarreling over the choice of the VP candidate and are calling for his substitution.

TheGuardian learned that while both parties to the simmering trouble in ADC are maintaining studied silence, the supporters of the former Transportation Minister have convinced him to proceed with a court case against the ADC presidential primary if by June 27, his name is uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) portal.

Recall that last Monday, June 5, the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed that Amaechi has been chosen as the running mate for the former Vice President Atiku Abukakar, stressing that the AA ticket, describing the ADC presidential pairing as a “unity and rescue” ticket.

However, no sooner than Amaechi’s choice was made public than the loyalists of the former Vice President, Atiku, started kicking against the nomination of the former Rivers State governor, contending that he is being propelled by associates of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the All Progressives Congress (APC) bloc.

Further, Atiku’s allies who are largely drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) splinter, alleged that Amaechi demonstrates unyielding independent-mindedness that would make it impossible for them (Atiku’s inner men) to find relevance in the emerging scheme of things.

According a former prominent member of the Buhari administration, Atiku’s supporters were incensed by the hasty way some NDC leaders pressured the former Vice President to concede to a number of conditionalities tabled by Amaechi, including the management of Presidential campaigns.

“What some of those attacking Amaechi’s selection do not know was that the party was heading towards disintegration on account of the aftermath of the presidential primary, which was done through the cumbersome direct methodology.

“Some of us from the North West wanted a situation where a younger candidate from the South should fly the party’s flag, but none of us was bold enough to campaign against the former Vice President and he mobilised forces and won. So, when the issue of who should deputise him arose, there was a big problem,” he stated.

He disclosed that based on the hot air that was blown by the party’s presidential aspirants, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen and Amaechi, as well as the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer Babachir David Lawal, the party’s leaders moved in to contain the ensuing misgivings.

His words: “Those kicking against Amaechi’s selection are misguided. We had a crisis on our hands, Amaechi was threatening court action against the presidential primary and that was something that the party could not afford to risk. The give and take that was put together by the elders of the party brought tempers down.

“The powersharing agreement was partly the initiative of the former Vice President, because he maintained that the image of two-fighting on the presidential ballot would open the avenue for the ruling party to further intrude in the internal affairs of ADC. To that extent, it would be wrong for anybody to say that preconditions set by Amaechi to accept the VP position was excessive.”

He stated that any attempt to alter the arrangement could lead to a prolonged litigation that could worsen ADC’s chances at winning the January 18, 2027 presidential ballot, stressing that the two Southern ADC stakeholders pushing to replace Amaechi do not have national political clout to improve the ticket as a better option.

Dismissing to reports about an ongoing recrimination between his father and Amaechi’s supporters over the Atiku/Amaechi joint ADC presidential ticket, one of the sons of the former Vice President, Shehu Abubakar, stated on his facebook page: “My brother, I was with the incoming Vice President of Nigeria this morning.

“We look forward to working with you to salvage our country from the catastrophic APC. You know our VP is also a lawyer, so if you need help in the NDC court case, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”