“My ambition is to contest for presidency,” Amaechi rejects Atiku’s running mate offer

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has insisted that his next political ambition is to become the president of Nigeria and not to emerge as a running mate to anybody.

Amaechi said this while dismissing claim that he has been pencilled down as a potential running mate to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of ADC in the 2027 presidential election.

Dele Momodu, a former presidential candidate and a ally of Atiku made the claim in an interview.

Momodu, in the interview said Amaechi will be considered as running mate to Atiku in the 2027 presidential election if the preferred Peter Obi failed to take up the opportunity.

He noted that as two-time Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign, Amaechi contributed to the victories of late President Muhammadu Bihari in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections..

Momodu said, “A lot of people are underrating Amaechi. Amaechi single-handedly handed power to Buhari. What the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is doing now, though in an unruly manner, Amaechi did quite well when he was governor of Rivers State.

“Amaechi mobilised more than any other person for Buhari, even more than Tinubu. If Obi does not make up his mind or chooses to run alone, then I believe the mantle might fall on Rotimi Amaechi.”

But Amaechi flatly rejected the offer as he insisted that his next ambition is to contest for the presidency

The former Rivers State Governors’ also said the speculation was unnecessary and misleading, particularly at a time when political alignments and negotiations ahead of 2027 are ongoing.

The former Minister said this in a statement by David Iyofor his media aide.

He insisted that his ambition is solely to become the President of Nigeria and not Vice President.

He also rejected any alliance aimed at making him a running mate.

‎”Amaechi is not seeking to be running mate to anybody. He does not intend to be a presidential running mate to anybody and will not,” Iyofor said. ‎

The former Rivers Governor also asserted that he believed that it is the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the next president and is therefore pursuing the presidential ticket of the ADC.

‎”Amaechi is not aware of, and will not be part of any talk to be running mate to anybody. For emphasis, Amaechi is running to be President of Nigeria and not to be a running mate to anybody.

‎”Politicians are kindly advised to leave Amaechi’s name out of any discussion for presidential running mate,” Iyofor said. ‎

Amaechi, contested for the 2023 presidential ticket of All Progressives Congress, but defected to the ADC earlier this year.