Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed claim by Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, that he would be running mate to ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in 2027 if Peter Obi insists on picking a ticket instead.
Momodu had suggested that Atiku might consider the former Rivers State governor, should the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, declines to run with him.
“A lot of people are underrating Amaechi. Amaechi single-handedly handed power to Buhari. What the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is doing now, though in an unruly manner, Amaechi did quite well when he was governor of Rivers State. Amaechi mobilised more than any other person for Buhari, even more than Tinubu. If Obi does not make up his mind or chooses to run alone, then I believe the mantle might fall on Rotimi Amaechi,” Momodu said in a recent interview said.
Amaechi, who spoke through his media aide, David Iyofor, insisted that his ambition is solely to become the president of the country and not vice president.
He added that Amaechi believes it is the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the next president and is therefore pursuing the presidential ticket of the ADC.
”Amaechi is not seeking to be 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 said
Amaechi, who contested the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket in 2023, defected to the ADC earlier this year and has since declared his intention to seek the party’s nomination for the 2027 election.
