Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has hinted at the possibility of building a political coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 elections, citing growing national hardship and insecurity.
In an interview with the BBC, Amaechi expressed dismay over worsening living conditions, warning that hunger and despair were driving instability across the country. “People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” he said.
Though still a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the former Rivers State governor made it clear that party loyalty should not override national interest. “If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right,” he stated.
Amaechi, who ran for president in 2023, said he was not ruling out another run in 2027. “Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution,” he said, adding that talks were underway with like-minded Nigerians to form a new political front.
He warned that Nigeria is “stagnant,” citing rising hunger, insecurity, and the growing number of out-of-school children. He linked the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency and banditry to economic despair, saying, “Many of those involved are doing it out of desperation and hunger.”
As other opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi also consider alliances ahead of 2027, Amaechi’s comments signal a potential realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape. “We’re thinking that if we come together and win the election, the country will certainly witness change,” he said.
Addressing speculation about his waning influence, he challenged critics: “Go to Port Harcourt and ask around—from the airport, you’ll see for yourself.”
