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Former Governor of Rivers State and ex Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar is qualified to contest the 2027 presidential election but must weigh age and physical capacity.
Amaechi, who is also seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he stressed that leadership at that level demands strength and mobility.
“Although he is eminently qualified to be president of Nigeria, he has right to contest. But he has to understand that there are other factors beyond where he comes from,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor pointed out that the demands of the presidency require a leader who can move across the country and respond quickly to issues on ground.
“This position requires the capacity to put yourself on the roads and see what is happening. Now, a 49-year-old has just been voted in as president in Benin Republic, so how do other candidates and even the current president, who is claiming (to be) 74, contend with that?
“Tinubu said he is 74, and former Vice President Atiku said he is 80. However, the position wants someone who can wake up in the morning and be able to go to states to see what needs to be done. If I am the president, I will be at the forefront of those who are fighting the war to fight several things,” he said.
Amaechi also dismissed the idea that his ambition is driven by ethnicity.
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“They are all regional candidates, but I am not a regional candidate. I’m not running because I’m Igbo, even though I’m partially one,” he said.
On the issue of candidate selection within the party, he rejected any move to adopt a consensus arrangement, insisting on a transparent primary process.
“I believe there has to be a primary. I do not agree with a consensus candidate because we have to allow people to vote for who they want in the party,” he said.
Speaking further on zoning, Amaechi maintained his long-standing opposition to regional considerations in choosing leaders.
“As for the issue of zoning or not zoning, what I would want him (Atiku) to realise is that when we were in the PDP, I never agreed with south or north or whatever, I always want the most-qualified candidate to contest,” he said.
He also criticised religious sentiments in Nigeria’s political space, linking it to past electoral decisions.
“I have said to Nigerians, leave region and ethnicity alone. That’s what put us here. Those who supported President Tinubu were pursuing a religious agenda. They were so happy about the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he added.
