ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a significant development reshaping the internal dynamics of Nigeria's opposition coalition, the former Minister of Transportation and prominent presidential aspirant, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that he takes no definitive stance on the controversial zoning of the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket. Addressing a press corps ahead of the party’s highly anticipated primary elections, the two-term Governor of Rivers State clarified that his philosophical outlook on power rotation in the current political climate remains layered, describing his view on the mechanism as simultaneously yes and no.
The former minister's remarks come at a critical junction as the African Democratic Congress experiences a massive influx of heavyweight political actors aiming to build a formidable front. When questioned about his personal stance on whether the party should formally restrict its presidential ticket to a specific geographic region to ensure equity, Amaechi noted that the country’s unresolved national identity complicates any straightforward application of the rule.
Do I believe in zoning? The answer is yes and no, Amaechi stated during the media engagement. Yes in the sense that the country, for now, Nigeria is yet to be found as a united entity. So, if it is the turn of the South, it is the turn of the South.
However, Amaechi quickly pivoted to practical political realities, referencing the stance of other major contenders who have recently picked up the party's expression of interest and nomination forms. He specifically pointed out that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a fellow frontline aspirant in the race for the party's ticket, does not subscribe to the regional zoning arrangement. Consequently, Amaechi argued that the issue should not become an administrative bottleneck but should instead be settled transparently at the ballot box during the upcoming primary convention.
But Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he doesn’t believe in it so, so that’s okay… let’s go to the primary, Amaechi said, signaling his readiness to test his popularity and structural reach against all comers in an open contest. When pressed by journalists regarding his realistic prospects of securing victory against formidable opponents like Atiku Abubakar and former managing director of the Investment Banking and Trust Company, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, the former minister declined to engage in bravado, simply stating, I wish them luck.
Amaechi utilized the media platform to issue a stern warning to political leaders and the wider Nigerian electorate against the dangers of playing divisive North-South politics to gain temporary electoral advantages. He cautioned that relying on regional sentiment rather than competence and national vision fundamentally weakens the democratic fabric of the nation.
To illustrate his point about the unpredictable nature of governance and the necessity of looking beyond immediate political alliances, the former minister shared anecdotes from his time within the ruling All Progressives Congress. He recounted warning an unnamed political colleague during the transition period that a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency would inevitably implement strict accountability measures—a prediction he noted has since come to pass under the current administration's shifting enforcement priorities. He also referenced giving similar candid advice to an elderly official within the Muhammadu Buhari administration regarding the structural difficulties that often arise when a new government takes the reins of power.
The same way I am talking to my colleagues and brothers from the North, let’s not play North-South politics; it’s not necessary, Amaechi emphasized. I don’t do it, and I will not do it.
Articulating his broader vision for the country's leadership, Amaechi declared his strong preference for a nationalist approach to statecraft, explicitly citing former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a historical model for governance. Despite having well-documented political disagreements with the former elder statesman in the past, Amaechi praised Obasanjo's pan-Nigerian perspective, arguing that such an approach is what the nation requires to navigate its current economic and security challenges.
I want to copy President Obasanjo; he’s a huge nationalist, Amaechi explained to reporters. You may not like him; I had disagreements with him, but he’s a Nigerian president, not a Yoruba president.
Concluding his address, the former transport minister asserted that he would much rather complete a presidential tenure and leave behind a legacy as a leader who served the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria rather than ascend to the highest office in the land purely on the strength of regional backing or ethnic affiliation. With the African Democratic Congress primary rapidly approaching, Amaechi's focus on an open, transparent contest sets the stage for an intense ideological battle within the leading opposition platform.
