2027: Amaechi Hints at Presidential Ambition, Slams Tinubu’s Economic Policies

By Ugbede James

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has signaled a potential challenge to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, citing worsening economic conditions under the current administration.

In an interview with the BBC, Amaechi expressed deep concern over the hardship many Nigerians are facing, describing the current economic situation as unsustainable.

“Things are getting harder for Nigerians,” Amaechi said. “We can’t continue this way.”

Although he stopped short of making a formal declaration to run for president, Amaechi left the door open, stating that “only time will tell” whether he will contest in 2027.

His comments come just weeks after governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) publicly endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the next election cycle. Despite the endorsement, Amaechi maintained that loyalty to the party does not equate to unconditional support for its leadership.

“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 said.
“The responsible thing is to tell the government the truth and speak on behalf of the people.”

The former minister decried the worsening poverty and hunger in the country, recounting a harrowing personal experience of encountering a corpse abandoned by the roadside—an incident he blamed on deepening food insecurity.

“People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” he said. “The truth is, I’m also feeling the hunger.”

Amaechi, who previously ran for the APC presidential ticket in 2022 and came second to Tinubu, emphasized that he still has something to offer the country and is actively engaging with like-minded Nigerians to form a strong opposition alliance.

“Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution,” he said.
“We are already in discussions with other concerned Nigerians who share the belief that the country is being mismanaged. The goal is to build a united front.”

While a formal presidential bid remains unannounced, Amaechi’s remarks are widely seen as a political reawakening and a challenge to the dominance of the Tinubu-led APC as the 2027 race gradually takes shape.