The Niger Delta Professionals Forum (NDPF) has rejected reports claiming that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been removed as the vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the group alleged that the reports were part of a smear campaign designed to create confusion ahead of the 2027 general election. The NDPF also claimed that the publication originated from a non-existent organisation allegedly linked to supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
NDPF Rejects Claims of Amaechi's Removal
The forum's Director of Planning and Research, Prince Tamunotonye Pepple, said there was no truth in claims that Amaechi had lost his position on the ADC presidential ticket. “It is laughable that many politicians in Rivers State have become jittery at the emergence of Amaechi as ADC's VP candidate. I can tell you authoritatively that there is no group like the Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum. That is a fake organisation that exists only in the ferid imagination of Wike's cheerleaders,” Pepple said.
He added: “We know why they are angry. They pleaded and bribed everyone in this country to get nominated as Vice Presidential candidate in the last election and failed woefully. Senator Dino Melaye was one of the persons who they tried to recruit to beg on their behalf. Today another person has got it purely on merit. Rather than celebrate his emergence and acknowledge his leadership credentials, they are busy sponsoring faceless organisations to carry out baseless smear campaigns against him.”
Political Landscape Ahead of 2027
The NDPF argued that the political landscape ahead of the next presidential election is changing, particularly in northern Nigeria. It claimed that both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Amaechi enjoy considerable support in the region. According to the statement, the pair could attract significant votes in the North during the 2027 election, a development it said could affect the electoral prospects of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The forum also alleged that growing concerns over the ruling party's electoral chances had fuelled desperate political tactics. It claimed that some individuals were planning to manipulate the electoral process and influence post-election litigation through the courts. However, the statement provided no evidence to support those allegations.
The Niger Delta Professionals Forum described itself as a non-profit organisation committed to advancing the welfare and professional development of young people from the Niger Delta across Nigeria.
Atiku Slams Court Ruling on ADC Deregistration
In a related development, former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar condemned a court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and several other opposition parties. Atiku described the ruling as a threat to Nigeria's democratic system and political pluralism. In a statement issued on Monday, June 15, by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the decision raised concerns about the rule of law and the future of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Neither Wike nor the individuals mentioned in the statement had publicly responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
