Feelers from the broad-based opposition coalition being formed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, indicate that the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, may emerge as the group’s eventual presidential candidate.
According to The Guardian, it was reliably gathered that Rotimi Amaechi became a potential candidate for the opposition coalition’s presidential ticket after Peter Obi insisted on running in the next presidential election with his former running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Amaechi, who celebrated his 60th birthday on May 27, reportedly revealed during a lecture held in his honour that he had informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—shortly after Tinubu emerged as the APC’s presidential candidate—that he would not support his campaign. At the event, the former governor of Rivers State is said to have explained to the audience that he had deep concerns about Tinubu’s ability to unify the country, and as a result, chose not to participate in his electioneering. He added that developments over the past two years had confirmed the validity of his concerns.
A member of the coalition’s steering committee reportedly told The Guardian that the event, which was attended by politicians, business leaders, religious figures, and close associates, was deliberately limited to invited guests because of the political signals it carried. The source also disclosed that Amaechi’s friends and political allies had organised the lecture—titled “Weaponising Hunger”—as a way to assess public sentiment and quietly explore the viability of a 2027 presidential run.
He also stated, “On the other hand, we have discovered that time is of the essence. It is possible that the two former presidential candidates may not reconsider their stance. So, some of us have resolved to put Amaechi on the ready. After all, he came second in the APC presidential primary.”
The source further explained that the Muhammadu Buhari camp within the APC has expressed their preference for Chibuike Amaechi over Atiku or Obi, adding that although Atiku and Obi have agreed to a one-term presidency, Amaechi has been circumscribed by zoning to one term.
Find Verified News At Your fingertips Click The Button Below
