May 14, (THEWILL) — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday, intensified political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, as both leaders formally advanced their presidential ambitions while canvassing different visions for Nigeria’s future.
Atiku submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress, describing his ambition as part of a broader national movement to restore prosperity, hope and national unity.
The former vice president disclosed this in a post shared on his X handle shortly after the submission of the forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
According to him, the move marked a decisive step in efforts to rescue Nigeria from economic hardship and national despair.
“The march to restore prosperity and better days to our beloved nation took a firm and decisive step forward today at the National Secretariat of our great party, the African Democratic Congress. This is more than a political journey; it is a national movement rooted in hope, renewal, and the collective resolve to save Nigeria from despair”, Atiku stated.
He also appealed to Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional divides to support his ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“I call on all Nigerians, regardless of region, faith, or background, to join us in this noble cause. Together, we will restore the promise of our nation and bring good times back again”, he added.
A video accompanying the post showed a charged atmosphere at the ADC secretariat, where supporters and loyalists gathered in large numbers ahead of Atiku’s arrival.
Meanwhile, Amaechi heightened political discussions after submitting his presidential nomination form in Abuja and launching a strong attack on identity politics and the philosophy that shaped the 2023 presidential election.
The former Minister of Transportation blamed the country’s present economic challenges on what he described as the “Emilokan” ideology, insisting that Nigerians must reject ethnic and religious sentiments in choosing their next president.
“It is, what do you call it, Emilokan, that brought us here. It is our turn that brought us here. It is the turn of Nigerians, because you see there is no market for Christians, neither is there a market for Muslims, or a market for northerners or southerners. The market has only just one purpose, the forex. And what is forex? Naira. Nigerians are suffering. They are suffering”, Amaechi said.
In one of his strongest criticisms yet of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the current administration, Amaechi questioned the party’s push for another term amid worsening economic conditions.
“The current president has put us in this suffering. I don’t know why he wants to run. I don’t even know why APC wants to participate. They should be in shame and allow other Nigerians to participate and change the country”, he said.
Amaechi urged Nigerians to vote based on competence, performance and capacity rather than ethnic or regional considerations.
“Nigerians should vote for merit but not vote for those who say ‘I’m from this place’, ‘I’m from that place’, ‘vote for me because my people have not been voted for before’, or ‘it’s our turn’,” he stated.
He further described the 2027 election as a referendum on the records and achievements of aspirants who had previously held public office.
“I would say that what you are seeing currently is that nearly everybody who is running for the office of the president has served Nigeria in one way or another. Let this be a referendum.
“If you have performed, whoever has outperformed the other, vote for the person. The next thing is, who is capable of delivering the votes? Who is capable of beating the incumbent? Who has the experience?” he said.
Amaechi maintained that his records as governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation demonstrated his readiness to lead the country.
“I believe I am the most experienced. I am young, I am the most experienced, and I believe I have the capacity”, he declared.
“Go back to Rivers State and see what I have done. Go back to the Ministry of Transportation and see what I have done, and assess it and see whether I can turn the country around. And I will, in four years, turn the country around.”
On the process of selecting the party’s presidential candidate, Amaechi expressed support for a transparent primary election, while also indicating openness to consensus if adopted by stakeholders.
“I’m going for primary. If the consensus is me, fine. But if it’s not me, I’m going for primary”, he concluded.
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