The African Democratic Congress has waved aside speculation stirred by former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi’s public silence, maintaining that he is still its candidate for vice president in 2027.

Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the party was not in crisis and that Amaechi had no obligation to issue a public statement accepting his place on the ticket beside presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Questioning what was expected of the former governor, Abdullahi argued on a television program that announcing such decisions fell to political parties rather than to the individuals nominated.

Amaechi had run in the ADC primary and openly rejected Atiku’s victory afterwards, but Atiku later paid him a visit widely read as a peace move, and the party went on to name him running mate. Abdullahi said the pair would be presented formally in due course, since campaigning had yet to begin.