First and foremost, I congratulate His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, on his emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 presidential election. By most accounts, the ADC presidential primary was keenly contested and has been widely adjudged as one of the freest and fairest internal party primaries in Nigerian political history, especially when contrasted with the controversies that trailed the primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at various levels.
With the primary election now behind him, the next major task before Atiku is perhaps even more consequential: the choice of a running mate. The political atmosphere of 2027 is significantly different from that of previous election cycles. Millions of Nigerians have become disillusioned with conventional politicians and political establishments. The economic hardship, rising cost of living, insecurity and widespread disappointment associated with the much-publicised “Renewed Hope” agenda have created a new political reality. Nigerians are increasingly searching for leaders with visible personal accomplishments, integrity, competence and a proven record of excellence outside the government. This changing political mood should influence the choice of Atiku’s running mate.
A careful examination of the 2019 and 2023 presidential election results reveals important lessons. In 2019, Atiku Abubakar performed strongly across Southern Nigeria, securing 5,703,387 votes from the South-East, South-South and South-West combined. By 2023, that figure had fallen dramatically to 1,742,773 votes. The most striking lesson comes from the South-East. In 2019, when Atiku ran with Peter Obi, he secured 524,738 votes in Anambra, 355,553 in Enugu, 258,573 in Ebonyi, 219,698 in Abia and 334,923 in Imo, giving him a regional total of 1,693,485 votes. By 2023, those figures collapsed to just 9,036 votes in Anambra, 15,749 in Enugu, 13,503 in Ebonyi, 22,676 in Abia and 30,234 in Imo, leaving him with only 91,198 votes in the entire region. The implication is obvious: Peter Obi remains the dominant political force in the South-East, and it would be difficult for any South-Eastern running mate to significantly alter that equation in 2027.
The South-West, however, tells a different story. Despite the presence of Bola Tinubu on the ballot in 2023, Atiku still secured 941,941 votes in the region, including 354,366 votes in Osun, 182,977 in Oyo, 123,831 in Ogun, 115,463 in Ondo and 89,554 in Ekiti. Unlike the South-East where the PDP’s support almost disappeared, the South-West remains a competitive political battlefield with substantial room for growth. This suggests that Atiku’s running mate should come from a region where additional votes can realistically be won rather than from a region where voting patterns appear increasingly entrenched. This is where Chief Dele Momodu deserves serious consideration.
Unlike many politicians whose influence is limited to government structures, Dele Momodu has spent decades building a national and international profile through journalism, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, diplomacy and public engagement. As publisher of Ovation International, he has established relationships that cut across regions, religions, generations and political affiliations.
More importantly, Momodu possesses a unique political and cultural advantage. While he is proudly rooted in the South-West, he also enjoys deep ancestral and cultural ties to the South-South. In practical terms, he offers Atiku access to two geopolitical zones. At a time when names such as Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi and possibly Goodluck Jonathan and Donald Duke may influence regional voting calculations or most likely spoil the votes, choosing a running mate with cross-regional appeal becomes a strategic necessity.
The Delta State experience in 2023 further illustrates this reality. Having selected Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, then a sitting governor and arguably the most influential politician in Delta State, Atiku was expected to improve on his 2019 performance in the state. Instead, his votes declined from about 595,674 in 2019 to 161,600 in 2023. If a sitting governor could not significantly boost Atiku’s fortunes even in his home state, it suggests that regional balancing alone no longer guarantees electoral success. Increasingly, voters are responding more to personal credibility, influence and individual appeal than to geography or political office.
The argument becomes even stronger when historical precedents are considered. In 2014, Muhammadu Buhari selected Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate. At the time, Osinbajo was respected within professional and religious circles but was not a mass political figure. He had never served as governor and lacked the nationwide popularity associated with frontline politicians. Yet his credibility, intellect and professional accomplishments helped strengthen the APC ticket.
Today, Dele Momodu’s public profile, influence, visibility and political exposure are arguably far greater than what Osinbajo possessed before the 2015 election. He is a household name across Nigeria and among Nigerians in the Diaspora. He commands influence among traditional institutions, media stakeholders, business leaders, artists, youth groups and opinion moulders.
Similarly, when Atiku contested in 2007, he selected Senator Ben Obi from Anambra State as his running mate. Ben Obi was a respected politician, but few would dispute that Dele Momodu’s national visibility, international network and public recognition today far surpassed what Ben Obi represented politically at the time.
Beyond popularity, Momodu offers something increasingly scarce in Nigerian politics: loyalty, honesty, authenticity and integrity. He is widely regarded as a detribalised Nigerian, a promoter of national unity and a bridge between North and South. For decades, he has maintained relationships with political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and ordinary citizens across all parts of the country. His influence in Northern Nigeria is particularly noteworthy. Few Southern figures enjoy the level of acceptance, goodwill and accessibility that Momodu commands in the North. This makes him uniquely positioned to complement Atiku’s longstanding political base while simultaneously helping to rebuild confidence among Southern voters.
Furthermore, Momodu’s appeal goes beyond politics. At a time when Nigerians are tired of career politicians and professional office seekers, he represents personal accomplishment, entrepreneurial success, intellectual depth and global relevance. His emergence on a presidential ticket would send a powerful message that competence, achievement and character still matter in Nigerian public life.
The challenge before Atiku in 2027 is not merely how to win an election. It is how to convince Nigerians that he represents a genuine departure from the politics that has disappointed them. That objective may not be achieved by choosing another conventional politician whose appeal is limited to political structures and elite negotiations.
The lessons of 2019 and 2023 suggest that electoral mathematics alone is no longer enough. Nigerians are increasingly voting for personalities, credibility, competence and hope. For that reason, Atiku Abubakar may need a running mate who symbolises achievement outside government, integrity in public life, national acceptability and genuine bridge-building capacity. Chief Dele Momodu fits that description.
As 2027 approaches, the Waziri Adamawa has a critical decision to make. If the goal is to present Nigerians with a ticket capable of inspiring confidence, expanding electoral reach and embodying the promise of national renewal, then Dele Momodu deserves serious consideration as his running mate.
Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com
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