Fresh moves to form a broad-based opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections have brought former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi into focus as a possible consensus presidential candidate. Sources say Amaechi’s emergence is being considered due to Labour Party’s Peter Obi insisting on running again with his 2023 running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Amaechi, who recently turned 60, had publicly distanced himself from supporting President Bola Tinubu since the APC primaries. At his birthday lecture themed “Weaponising Hunger”, insiders confirmed that the event also served as a political test of his 2027 ambitions.
A coalition steering committee member said delays in firming up unity between Atiku Abubakar and Obi prompted Amaechi’s consideration. “We’ve found both men are holding firm to their positions. Some of us think Amaechi should be ready.”
The push is reportedly supported by elements from former President Buhari’s camp, who prefer Amaechi as a one-term compromise candidate due to zoning dynamics.
Meanwhile, Dr. Umar Ardo of the League of Northern Democrats advocated for a new political platform rather than joining existing parties like the SDP or ADC, citing risks of internal sabotage and judicial interference.
Katch Ononuju, another coalition member, emphasized that Obi’s 2027 ambition was non-negotiable, warning the coalition must acknowledge his consistent public stance to contest again.
If efforts to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) succeed, Amaechi may run under that banner, while Atiku and Obi could end up on separate platforms like the SDP and ADC.
Dickson, Soyinka, and Fani-Kayode Weigh In
At Amaechi’s birthday event, former Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson warned against repeating the 2015 coalition mistake that ousted Jonathan. He urged the opposition to reflect on the unintended consequences of past political maneuvers.
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka praised Amaechi’s courage during the APC primaries, calling him “the last man standing” for refusing to step down. Soyinka likened his defiance to Tinubu’s past resistance against Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.
Conversely, APC’s Femi Fani-Kayode criticised the opposition, blaming their internal divisions for the country’s drift toward a one-party state. He described the coalition as a “pitiful” alliance driven by selfish ambition, saying the APC remains more united.
Backing this sentiment, Osun APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye dismissed the Atiku-led coalition as a “failed project,” arguing that genuine unity and strategy—not personal ambition—are key to successful alliances.
