Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has firmly dismissed reports suggesting he is considering joining forces with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued through his media aide, David Iyofor, Amaechi made it clear that he has no interest in the vice-presidential slot and will not contest under anyone’s ticket. According to Iyofor, Amaechi is solely focused on his presidential ambition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Amaechi is not seeking to be running mate to anybody. He is running to be President of Nigeria and not to be a running mate to anybody,” Iyofor stated.
The clarification follows comments attributed to media personality and Atiku ally, Dele Momodu, who hinted that Atiku might consider Amaechi as a possible running mate if ongoing political negotiations break down. The suggestion stirred reactions across political circles, prompting Amaechi to publicly distance himself from such speculation.
Amaechi also maintained that it is Southern Nigeria’s turn to produce the next president, and he is committed to championing that cause.
The former Rivers State governor’s position aligns with his earlier declarations within the ADC. In August, he insisted he would not step down for any aspirant during the party’s presidential primary, stressing that delegates—not political deals—should determine the party’s flagbearer.
Before then, Amaechi had also stated that he was willing to serve as a one-term president if elected, arguing that political stability and power rotation were more important than his personal ambition.
Amaechi, who came second to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the APC presidential primary in 2022, has since defected to the ADC, breathing new energy into discussions about the opposition’s strategy ahead of 2027.
Meanwhile, the ADC has maintained that its key leaders — including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi — remain united despite differing ambitions, assuring that personal goals will not break the coalition before the 2027 polls.
For now, Amaechi’s stance remains unchanged:
He is running for president — not for vice president.