South-East Not Entitled to Atiku’s Running Mate Slot, Votes Will Decide — Analyst tells  Okonkwo

By Musa Baba Adamu

A political commentator, Huram Lokodi, has cautioned against interpreting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s possible running mate decision as marginalisation of the South-East, arguing that electoral strategy and vote calculations will play a major role in the 2027 presidential contest.

In a message addressed to a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, the commentator said it was too early to accuse Atiku of sidelining the region, insisting that the former vice president had no record of deliberately excluding any part of the country from governance.

Lokodi argued that previous instances where Atiku selected running mates from the South-East were largely driven by considerations of national balance. However, he maintained that the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 election require a different approach.

According to him, the South-East’s voting pattern in the 2023 presidential election, when the region overwhelmingly backed Peter Obi, has introduced new realities into opposition calculations.

He noted that Obi’s decision to pursue his political ambition outside the opposition coalition and contest independently could mean that a significant number of voters in the region may remain loyal to him, regardless of the identity of Atiku’s running mate.

Lokodi further argued that selecting a vice-presidential candidate from the South-East may not automatically translate into electoral gains, stressing that political parties must adopt broader strategies to secure votes across the country.

Rejecting a presidential ticket solely because it lacks an Igbo candidate would amount to poor political judgment, he said, adding that the South-East could still occupy strategic positions in government if Atiku emerges victorious.

On the question of regional representation, the commentator also referenced former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, suggesting that his political background and national connections give him broad appeal beyond ethnic considerations.

The debate over zoning, regional inclusion and the choice of running mates is expected to intensify as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 presidential election.