“Atiku Can’t Win Election” — Amaechi Rules Out Stepping Down

“Atiku Can’t Win Election” — Amaechi Rules Out Stepping Down

Former Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lacks the electoral strength to win Nigeria’s presidential election, insisting that he will not step down for any aspirant ahead of the 2027 political contest.

Amaechi made the remarks during a live interview on Trust TV on Monday night, where he spoke extensively about the future of opposition politics, internal party primaries, and the battle for power ahead of the next general election.

The former minister dismissed arguments suggesting that Atiku’s repeated success in securing presidential tickets automatically makes him a strong national candidate.

According to Amaechi, the real test of political strength lies in winning a nationwide election rather than defeating party delegates during primaries.

“He has been running since 1992. Every time he has won the primaries, he loses the election. It’s about electability and Atiku is not electable,” Amaechi said during the interview.

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Amaechi argued that despite Atiku’s long political experience and popularity within party structures, the former Vice President has failed to translate primary victories into electoral success at the national level.

“I listen when they say former Vice President Atiku said he has never failed the primaries before. I hope this will be the first time he fails the primaries,” Amaechi stated.

“That is not the issue. The issue is that every time he has passed the primaries, he has not won the election.”

The former Rivers State governor maintained that Nigeria’s current political climate requires a candidate capable of attracting support across all geopolitical zones, rather than one who depends largely on internal party alliances.

Amaechi insisted that he would not withdraw from the presidential race for any aspirant, signaling his determination to remain active in the build-up to the 2027 elections.

The comments are expected to intensify political conversations around possible opposition coalitions and the growing rivalry among leading political figures ahead of the next presidential contest.

Atiku Abubakar, who served as Vice President between 1999 and 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has contested for Nigeria’s presidency multiple times since the 1990s.

The former PDP presidential candidate lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election and was defeated again by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential poll.

Amaechi, a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and two-term governor, was also one of the major contenders during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary eventually won by President Tinubu.

The former minister stressed that his experience in governance and national politics positions him as a stronger and more electable candidate.

Political observers believe Amaechi’s latest remarks may further complicate ongoing talks about a possible opposition alliance ahead of 2027, especially as several influential politicians continue consultations over coalition arrangements.

The comments have already sparked reactions across political circles, with supporters of both Amaechi and Atiku debating the implications for the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.

“Atiku Can’t Win Election” — Amaechi Rules Out Stepping Down