Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor and the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, has expressed confidence that the party will defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Speaking on Saturday at the ADC presidential campaign rally in Bauchi State, he claimed the party has the support of 13 states across the North-East and North-West, and said the ADC would not accept a repeat of what he alleged happened in the 2023 general election.

Amaechi, who is running mate to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, contrasted the ADC's regional reach with that of the ruling party, noting that Tinubu comes with only five states in the South-West. He further claimed the Allied Peoples Movement would take a sixth South-West state, and predicted the ADC would challenge the All Progressives Congress in the South-South and North-Central, with victories in Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa states. He also said Tinubu would not make significant gains in the South-East.S1S2

The rally comes amid uncertainty over the party's leadership. On November 5, the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership of the ADC's National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken under it, including the process that produced Atiku as presidential candidate. Justice Peter Lifu also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise decisions taken at the party's 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025. The ADC rejected the judgment and said it would challenge it in court, insisting its preparations for the 2027 elections will continue.S1

Atiku, who served as Vice-President between 1999 and 2007, emerged as the ADC's presidential candidate at its May 2026 primary, with Amaechi selected as his running mate.S1