Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has publicly shut down political speculations linking him to a vice-presidential ticket alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi's Firm Stance on Presidential Ambition
In a clear statement issued on Monday, December 1, 2025, Amaechi declared he has no interest whatsoever in being a running mate to any presidential candidate. The former Rivers State governor, who served from October 2007 to May 2015, emphasised that his focus is strictly on contesting for the presidency itself.
His media aide, David Iyofor, was quoted by Vanguard and The Punch delivering the unequivocal message. Iyofor stated that Amaechi is not seeking, does not intend to be, and will not become a presidential running mate to anybody. He further clarified that Amaechi is not part of any discussions concerning a vice-presidential slot and advised other politicians to leave his name out of such talks.
The Political Landscape and Atiku's Search
The rebuttal comes amid reports that Atiku Abubakar's political bloc within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has begun searching for a strong running mate from southern Nigeria. According to political insiders, the bloc is reportedly looking towards Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate.
Should Obi decline, the reports suggested that Atiku's camp would then turn its attention to Rotimi Amaechi as a potential vice-presidential candidate. This coalition, which includes other prominent figures like David Mark and Nasir El-Rufai, aims to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) democratically in 2027.
Southern Presidency and ADC Ticket
Iyofor highlighted the core of Amaechi's political calculation, noting that the former minister believes it is the turn of southern Nigeria to produce the country's next president. Consequently, Amaechi is seeking the presidential ticket of the ADC to actualise this vision.
This is not Amaechi's first attempt at the nation's highest office. He contested the APC presidential primary in 2022, where he emerged as the runner-up, losing the ticket to Bola Tinubu, who later won the general election.
In other related news, the ADC has recently faced criticism from a civil society coalition, the Citizens for Secure Nation (CSN). The coalition's president, Alhaji Musa Danladi Maikawa, accused the party of exploiting Nigeria's security challenges for political gain rather than proposing solutions, alleging the ADC seeks to undermine public trust in the government.
