Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has emphatically denied suggestions that he is being considered as a potential vice-presidential running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the buildup to the 2027 elections. Amaechi insisted he is focused solely on pursuing his own presidential bid and has no intention of serving as anyone’s deputy.
His remarks follow comments by Atiku’s ally, Dele Momodu, who hinted that the former Vice President might consider the ex-Rivers State governor as a possible running mate if Peter Obi declines an offer to join him. Momodu, speaking in an interview with Punch, also hailed Amaechi’s political weight, describing him as instrumental to President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2015.
But in a response issued through his media aide, David Iyofor, Ameachi dismissed any suggestion of talks aimed at making him a vice-presidential candidate. Iyofor said Amaechi maintains that it is the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the next president and is therefore pursuing the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Amaechi is not seeking to be a running mate to anybody. He does not intend to be a presidential running mate to anybody and will not.
“Amaechi is not aware of, and will not be part of any talk to be running mate to anybody. For emphasis, Amaechi is running to be President of Nigeria and not to be a running mate to anybody.
“Politicians are kindly advised to leave Amaechi’s name out of any discussion for presidential running mate,” Iyofor added.
This is not Amaechi’s first public reaffirmation of his intention to seek the ADC’s presidential ticket. In August, he declared that he would not step down for any aspirant during the party’s primary, arguing that the delegates should decide the flagbearer. A month earlier, he stated that he was willing to serve as a one-term president to support power rotation and political stability if elected under the ADC platform.
“If not for the coalition agreement, the answer to whether I’ll run (as president) would have been an outright yes,” he said.
“But what did we agree? Everyone should keep aside their ambition. Let’s first get the platform. Let’s build it before talking about the presidency.”
Amaechi previously contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022, finishing second behind Bola Tinubu, who ultimately clinched the party’s ticket.
