2027: I can’t rule out contesting against Tinubu – Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed readiness to join forces with the opposition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election, citing worsening economic hardship in the country. Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, who came second during the APC presidential primary that produced Tinubu as the party’s candidate in […]

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed readiness to join forces with the opposition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election, citing worsening economic hardship in the country.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, who came second during the APC presidential primary that produced Tinubu as the party’s candidate in 2022, said he has not ruled out the possibility of running for the 2027 presidency, saying time would tell.

He spoke during an interview with the BBC.

This is coming less than a month after APC leaders endorsed and adopted Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

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Daily Trust reports that opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 poll, Peter Obi; former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and many others, have been making moves to unseat Tinubu in 2027.

Amaechi affirmed his loyalty to the APC, but insisted that being a member of the ruling party does not mean he should support the government when it is allegedly not doing well.

“If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you are in the same party. You know that is not right. People are dying. People are starving. I myself, I am feeling the effects of hunger. The truth is, I’m also feeling the hunger,” the former minister said.

Though the former governor said he was not currently planning to run for president, he added that it remained a possibility because he believes he still has something to offer. “Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution,” he said.

Amaechi revealed that he was in talks with other concerned Nigerians who believe the country is being mismanaged to form a united front. “We are thinking that if we come together and win the election, the country will certainly witness change.

“I have always said that Boko Haram is not a religious crisis. Many of those involved are doing it out of desperation and hunger,” he added.

But the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said, “The planned coalition is dead on arrival.” He spoke at the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road One (Nnamdi Azikiwe Way) to Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Road) and other roads in Katampe District of Abuja yesterday.