2027: I’ll Defeat Atiku In ADC Presidential Primary – Amaechi

A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed confidence in his chances of securing the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amaechi said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also expected to play a major role in the opposition race, may no longer be electorally viable despite his record of winning party primaries.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Monday night, the former Rivers State governor said the 2027 contest should be judged on electability and not merely on the ability to win internal party contests.

Amaechi took a swipe at Atiku’s political record, saying the former vice president had repeatedly won presidential primaries but failed to win the main election.

He said, “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.

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

The former minister argued that the opposition must present a candidate who can win the confidence of voters across the country and defeat the ruling party in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, winning a party ticket is not enough if such victory cannot be translated into success at the general election.

Amaechi said his candidacy would offer Nigerians a fresh option because, unlike some other leading opposition figures, he had never contested a presidential election.

He maintained that this would give him a stronger argument before party delegates and voters.

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

Amaechi’s remarks come as opposition politicians continue consultations and alignments ahead of the 2027 polls.

Despite questioning Atiku’s electability, Amaechi spoke positively about the former vice president and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

He said both men possessed the capacity to govern Nigeria better than President Bola Tinubu.

“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,” Amaechi said.

The former minister’s comment reflects the growing criticism of the Tinubu administration by opposition figures as political activities gradually build up ahead of the next election cycle.

Amaechi also accused Tinubu of promoting ethnic considerations in governance.

He contrasted Tinubu’s leadership style with that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as a nationalist.

According to him, Obasanjo approached governance with a broader national outlook.

He described the former president as “a huge nationalist.”

Amaechi’s criticism adds to ongoing debates over inclusiveness, national unity and the distribution of political power under the current administration.

On zoning, the former Rivers governor said he supported the principle, though he admitted that the issue remained complicated.

He said Nigeria was still battling challenges of unity and national integration, making zoning relevant in the country’s political arrangement.

“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 said.

His position suggests that he sees zoning as a temporary political tool for managing Nigeria’s diversity and reducing feelings of exclusion among different regions.

Meanwhile, the ADC has appointed a former Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, and a former Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, to lead its presidential primary committees.

Imoke will serve as Chairman of the Presidential Screening Committee, while Ahmed will head the Presidential Election Committee.

Other members of the Presidential Screening Committee include Hon. C.I.D. Maduabum, who will serve as secretary; Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa; Prof. Bode Ayorinde; Hon. Nnena Elendu-Ukeje; Prof. David Salifu; and Col. Abubakar Ali Ciroma.

The Presidential Election Committee has Prof. Yisa Gana as secretary.

Other members are Maj.-Gen. Adamu Jalingo, Dr Auwalu Anwar, Chief Emenike Ikechi, Dr Macaulay Iyare, Tajudeen Bakare, Elder Ubolo Itodo Okpanachi, Zainab Buba Galadima, Uzoamaka Onyeama, and Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Inuwa Idris.

The party also constituted a Presidential Appeals Committee chaired by Dr Suleiman Usman, SAN.

Barr. Ken Imasuagbon will serve as secretary of the committee, while Barr. Dare Okerade will serve as a member.

The ADC said the committees were carefully constituted to ensure transparency, credibility, fairness and internal democracy in the conduct of its presidential primary.