Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has voiced strong optimism about clinching the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. He suggested that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may no longer be the most electorally viable candidate despite his track record in winning party primaries.
In a recent interview on Trust TV, Amaechi highlighted his own fresh appeal to voters, noting that he has never contested a presidential election before. “I’ve never run. If nothing else, I can argue that I’ve never run any presidential election,” he stated. He contrasted this with Atiku’s history, saying, “The issue is that at all times that you have passed primary, you have not won an election. So it’s about electability.”
Amaechi further remarked, “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.”
While positioning himself as a strong contender, Amaechi praised both Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, stating that either would perform better than the current administration if given the opportunity. “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 minister also addressed broader national issues, criticizing what he described as tribalistic tendencies in governance under President Bola Tinubu and contrasting it with the nationalist approach of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He emphasized the importance of national integration, equitable opportunities across regions, improved education infrastructure particularly in the North and ensuring all groups, including those in the South-East, feel a genuine sense of belonging in Nigeria.
These comments come as the ADC gears up for its presidential primary scheduled for May 25, 2026. Other notable aspirants include Atiku Abubakar and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. The party has indicated it has no preferred candidate and remains open to a consensus arrangement.
Amaechi’s renewed political engagement underscores his commitment to offering Nigerians experienced and unifying leadership capable of addressing the country’s pressing challenges in security, economy, and national cohesion.