604
By Tracy Moses
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has urged opposition parties to get organised and galvanise citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that President Bola Tinubu is not politically “invincible.”
Speaking at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 held in Abuja on Tuesday, Amaechi cautioned against political indifference among citizens and lamented the waning influence of civic and pressure groups that once held leaders accountable.
According to him, credible elections are achievable if Nigerians participate actively and turn out massively during polls.
He said, “People say the president is invincible, he is not. I’ve worked closely with him, and I know that’s not true. When you hear people say the results are already written, that’s part of their strategy to discourage you from coming out.
“But if Nigerians come out in their numbers, nobody can manipulate the process or hijack result sheets. Anyone who attempts to do so will only be inviting chaos.”
Amaechi, who once served as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, faulted the political class for the decline in public accountability, warning that reforms would never come from government unless citizens demand them.
He argued that civic mobilisation must now come directly from the people, declaring that traditional platforms such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have lost credibility and the ability to lead such movements.
“Don’t wait for the NLC, they no longer exist in that sense. The same goes for ASUU and NANS. If you keep expecting government-led reforms, you’re wasting your time,” he said.
“Before elections, Nigerians must resist any forces working against free and fair polls.”
Commenting on the current economic situation, Amaechi expressed concern over the deepening hardship in the country, saying hunger has become widespread and inescapable.
“I said recently that Nigerians are hungry. Even if you claim I’m not hungry, are Nigerians not hungry? Hunger is everywhere, and it’s obvious,” he lamented.
The former Rivers governor also decried the growing alliance between politicians and contractors, which he said was entrenching inequality and weakening the foundations of democracy.
Amaechi’s comments follow recent remarks by former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who asserted that President Tinubu would face no formidable opposition in the 2027 presidential race, describing the contest as a “Tinubu versus Tinubu” affair and insisting that the ruling APC remains firmly dominant across the country.