…Dele Momodu Fires Back As Amaechi Rejects Pressure To Step Down For Atiku
Daud Olatunji
Fresh tension has erupted within the opposition coalition as former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has firmly rejected claims suggesting he is being considered as a vice-presidential candidate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Amaechi, who is among presidential aspirants under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the rejection during a televised interview on a TV, where he abruptly cut in after being described as a “vice-presidential candidate.”
“Stop that! Stop calling me vice presidential candidate. I didn’t buy vice presidential form. If you want to interview a vice presidential candidate, I can leave,” he said angrily during the session.
The former minister insisted that he remains fully in the presidential race and would not accept any arrangement that places him as a running mate to any aspirant, including Atiku Abubakar.
He also ruled out stepping down for any candidate, stressing his confidence in securing the party’s ticket through a competitive primary rather than consensus.
Amaechi’s remarks come amid growing reports of internal pressure within the ADC-led coalition for certain aspirants to step down in favour of Atiku as the bloc’s preferred candidate for 2027.
Tensions further escalated following claims that Amaechi walked out of a closed-door meeting held at the Abuja residence of former Senate President and ADC National Chairman, David Mark.
Sources said the meeting centred on efforts to persuade Amaechi to withdraw his presidential ambition and back Atiku’s candidacy, a move the former governor allegedly rejected outright before leaving the session in anger.
The incident has fuelled speculation of deepening cracks within the coalition over its zoning formula and candidate selection process.
The development has also reignited concerns among political stakeholders over what some describe as attempts to impose a consensus candidate rather than allow an open primary contest.
Reacting to Amaechi’s outburst, veteran journalist and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, urged the former governor to exercise restraint in his public comments about Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking on Channels Television, Momodu cautioned that aspirants seeking the presidency must demonstrate discipline and emotional control in public engagements.
“Mr. Amaechi, in the name of Almighty God, should please cool his temper,” Momodu said.
“A potential presidential candidate and possible president of Nigeria must watch his temper and temperament and does not need to attack Atiku,” he added.
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