Amaechi’ll cost Atiku victory in 2027 – Group

A political pressure group, the Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum (SPPAF), has warned that any move by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to pick former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election would undermine the opposition’s chances of defeating President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement jointly signed by Johnson Iheanacho, Eniafe Ayomide and Anga Fidelis, the group described Amaechi as a “political liability” whose alleged declining influence in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta could cost the opposition victory at the polls.

The forum said the emergence of the African Democratic Party (ADC) as a coalition platform had revived the hopes of many Nigerians seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urging the opposition not to squander the opportunity through what it called poor strategic decisions.

According to the statement, although the coalition has faced legal and political challenges, the party has remained united and continued its activities, including conducting its primaries.

The group, however, alleged that Amaechi’s conduct during the party’s presidential primary campaign weakened the party’s image, accusing him of publicly attacking Atiku instead of promoting issue-based politics.

It claimed that Amaechi repeatedly questioned Atiku’s electoral viability in media interviews and rejected suggestions that he could serve as the former vice president’s running mate.

The forum argued that if reports suggesting Atiku was considering Amaechi as his running mate were true, such a decision would contradict the criticisms Amaechi had publicly levelled against the former vice president.

The group further claimed that Amaechi no longer commands significant political support in Rivers State, alleging that he would be unable to deliver his ward, local government or the state during a presidential election.

It also alleged that the former minister had become unpopular across the Niger Delta because of decisions taken during his tenure as governor, including the prolonged closure of courts in Rivers State, salary and pension issues, the abandoned monorail project and controversies surrounding the state’s power project.

According to the forum, Amaechi’s political influence has steadily declined since 2015, noting that candidates and political parties he supported in Rivers State had suffered electoral defeats.

The statement also referenced unverified claims that Amaechi had allegedly demanded control of several ministries and federal agencies as part of ongoing political negotiations, while acknowledging that such reports remained rumours.

The group urged Atiku to consider a running mate capable of strengthening the opposition’s electoral prospects, particularly in Southern Nigeria, instead of someone it described as lacking electoral value.

It added that there were several qualified personalities from the South-East, South-South and South-West who could broaden the party’s appeal and improve its chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.

The forum maintained that the opposition’s primary objective should be presenting the strongest possible ticket capable of unseating the APC, warning that selecting Amaechi as running mate could hand President Tinubu a strategic advantage at the polls.