Posted by Chinenye on Fri 17th Apr, 2026 - tori.ng
Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has ignited a fresh debate over the 2027 presidency, questioning the physical capacity of elder statesmen like Atiku Abubakar (80) and President Bola Tinubu (74) to lead Nigeria.
( Bola Tinubu,(L) Atiku Abubakar (R) Photo Credit: Daily Nigerian)
Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has ignited a fresh debate over the 2027 presidency, questioning the physical capacity of elder statesmen like Atiku Abubakar (80) and President Bola Tinubu (74) to lead Nigeria.
Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar is eligible to run for president in 2027, according to former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, but age and capacity must also be taken into account.
Amaechi, who is also vying for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket, stated on Channels Television's The Morning Brief show on Friday that age is a consideration that must be taken into account when pursuing a presidential aspiration.
He has the right to run for president of Nigeria even though he is well qualified. However, he must recognize that there are elements other than his origins, Amaechi stated.
The former governor of Rivers State pointed out that the president needs to be able to act quickly to resolve Nigeria's issues.
"The ability to drive and observe what is going on is necessary for this role. How can other candidates and even the present president, who claims to be 74, deal with the fact that a 49-year-old was just elected president of the Benin Republic?
Former Vice President Atiku claimed to be 80 years old, whereas Tinubu claimed to be 74. But the job requires someone who can get up in the morning and travel to the states to see what needs to be done. "I will be at the forefront of those fighting the war to fight several things if I am elected president," he declared.
Amaechi further disassociated himself from aspirations based on ethnicity, stating, “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.”
Amaechi also disagreed with Atiku on a possible plan by the ADC to select a presidential candidate by means of consensus instead of a primary election.
“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.
Amaechi maintained his long-standing opposition to regional politics over zoning, saying, “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, Religious factors in previous political judgments were also criticized by Amaechi, referencing support for President Bola Tinubu in 2023. “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.”