Amaechi questions Atiku’s electability ahead of 2027

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, says he is well placed to clinch the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Monday, Amaechi argued that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had repeatedly succeeded in party primaries without translating those victories into electoral success.

“I listened when the former vice president said he never failed a primary before. I hope this will be the first time he will fail primary,” Amaechi said.

He added, “The issue is that at all times that you have passed primary, you have not won an election. So it’s about electability.”

Amaechi maintained that he represented a different option for Nigerians because he had never previously contested for the presidency.

“I’ve never run. If nothing else, I can argue that I’ve never run any presidential election,” he stated.

Despite his criticism of Atiku’s electoral record, Amaechi praised both Atiku and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, insisting they would outperform President Bola Tinubu if given the opportunity to govern.

“If you give this country to Vice President Atiku to govern, I believe he would do well. Just as I think Governor Obi would do well. Honestly, both of them would do better than President Tinubu,” he said.

The former governor also accused Tinubu of placing ethnicity at the centre of governance. He contrasted the President’s leadership style with that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as a nationalist.

“He’s a Nigerian president. He’s not a Yoruba president,” Amaechi said while referring to Obasanjo.

On the issue of zoning, Amaechi said the arrangement remained necessary because Nigeria had yet to achieve full national cohesion.

“The answer is yes and no. Yes in the sense that the country, for now, is yet to be found as a united entity,” he stated.

He also warned against the marginalisation of the South-East, stressing that all regions must feel included in the Nigerian project.

“If they have to be in Nigeria, then they must be part of Nigeria. They must have a sense of belonging that they are Nigerians,” he said.

Amaechi added that his vision for the country would prioritise national integration, educational development and equal opportunities across regions.

The ADC is expected to hold its presidential primary on May 25 ahead of the 2027 general election. Other aspirants in the race include Atiku and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.