Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, has stated that he and other prominent opposition politicians may leave active politics if President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure victory in the 2027 presidential election. Amaechi made this statement at the ADC National Women League Conference in Abuja, urging party members to return to their various states and wards to intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amaechi emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilisation, encouraging party leaders and women supporters to take the campaign beyond Abuja and focus on securing votes in their local communities. He stressed that the outcome of the 2027 election could determine whether several members of the current opposition leadership remain active in partisan politics. According to Amaechi, the ADC must work at the grassroots level to challenge the ruling APC in the presidential election.
The former Rivers State governor and Minister of Transportation outlined a strategy for the opposition party to mount an effective challenge against the APC in 2027, similar to the mobilisation that preceded the 2015 presidential election. He highlighted the crucial role women would play in the mobilisation process, particularly at the ward and community levels. Amaechi argued that political parties cannot depend solely on rallies in major cities to win presidential elections.
Amaechi announced that he would personally visit several states to mobilise support for the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He mentioned Kebbi, Yola, Rivers, and Delta among the places where he intends to campaign for the party's candidates. Amaechi also emphasized the importance of the ADC winning governorship elections, stating that the presidential candidate cannot govern without the governors.
The ADC is fielding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, with Amaechi serving as his running mate. The party formally announced Amaechi's emergence as Atiku's running mate in June, after he had earlier contested the ADC presidential primary. Amaechi had initially sought the ADC presidential ticket but lost the primary to Atiku.
The opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 election is divided, with Peter Obi, previously associated with the ADC, now contesting the presidency under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate. The development has left major opposition politicians pursuing separate platforms as they seek to challenge Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
At the Abuja conference, Amaechi also criticised the economic situation in the country and urged women supporters not to allow themselves to be discouraged during the election campaign. He recalled how APC supporters were mobilised during the 2015 election and said women played a major role in the party's grassroots campaign at the time.
Key points
- Amaechi warns that opposition leaders may retire from politics if Tinubu and APC win 2027 election.
- ADC focuses on grassroots mobilisation to challenge APC in 2027 presidential election.
- Opposition landscape for 2027 election is divided, with major politicians pursuing separate platforms.
