May 20, (THEWILL) — Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed growing speculations that his entry into the presidential race under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was part of a broader arrangement to eventually emerge as a vice presidential candidate.
Amaechi insisted that he purchased the party’s presidential nomination form strictly to contest for the presidency ahead of the 2027 general election, stressing that he has no intention of accepting a subordinate role in any coalition deal.
The former Rivers governor made the clarification during an interview on Trust TV amid intensifying debates within the opposition coalition over consensus candidacy, zoning and the best strategy to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Amaechi’s comments also appeared to be a direct response to recent remarks by Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, who had argued that only a united northern consensus candidate stood a realistic chance of defeating Tinubu in the next presidential election.
Momodu, speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, had warned that divisions among opposition figures and prolonged internal contests within the ADC could weaken the coalition and inadvertently strengthen the APC ahead of 2027.
The media publisher had also urged Amaechi to “cool temper” amid growing rivalry among opposition politicians, while advocating strategic consensus-building rather than competitive primaries.
According to Momodu, the opposition lacked the time and resources to engage in prolonged internal contests, insisting that consensus arrangements would provide a more practical pathway to challenging the ruling party.
He further dismissed the zoning debate as a distraction, arguing that Nigeria’s political realities would ultimately favour strategic alliances over regional considerations.
But in response to the growing consensus campaign, Amaechi insisted that any arrangement within the ADC must be voluntary, not imposed on aspirants.
Responding to suggestions that he could eventually pair with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on a joint ticket, Amaechi firmly rejected the speculation.
“Please stop that. I didn’t buy the ADC presidential ticket to become Vice President”, he said.
Amaechi maintained that his focus remains on securing the ADC presidential ticket and leading the party into the 2027 election as its presidential candidate.
The former minister also warned against attempts to impose candidates on party members, insisting that where consensus fails, the ADC should conduct an open, transparent and democratic primary election.
“If you don’t agree, then primary. I don’t have any other answer to give you”, Amaechi stated.
He expressed confidence in his ability to defeat Atiku in the party’s primary despite acknowledging the former vice president’s history of winning presidential primaries across different political parties.
“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 in primary”, Amaechi said.
He, however, argued that repeated primary victories had not translated into success at the presidential election level, insisting that electability before Nigerians should remain the critical factor.
“The issue is that at all times that you have passed the primary, you have not won an election. So it’s about electability”, he added.
Amaechi further presented himself as a fresh alternative in the race, noting that, unlike some perennial presidential contenders, he had never previously contested for Nigeria’s highest office.
“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 the former vice president and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying they would govern Nigeria better than the current administration.
“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.
Amaechi also criticised what he described as increasing ethnic considerations in governance under the current administration, contrasting it with the leadership style of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as “a huge nationalist”.
“He’s a Nigerian president. He’s not a Yoruba president”, Amaechi said in reference to Obasanjo.
Speaking on zoning and power rotation, the former minister said he supports the principle because Nigeria is yet to attain full national cohesion and inclusiveness.
“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 explained.
Amaechi also raised concerns over insecurity and feelings of marginalisation in parts of the country, particularly in the South-East, warning that Nigeria’s unity can only survive if all regions feel included in the federation.
“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 stated.
He pledged that if elected president, his administration would prioritise national integration, education, equal opportunities and the resolution of regional grievances, while also tackling the country’s worsening security challenges.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
