The Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Femi Otubanjo, has questioned the presidential ambition of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News TV’s morning programme, Otubanjo said he was surprised that Amaechi decided to pursue the presidency, arguing that the former Minister of Transportation lacks the political strength needed for such a race.
According to him, many Nigerians believe repeated political declarations automatically translate into capability and influence.
Otubanjo also stated that Amaechi should not have contested the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he lacked the structure and political influence to mount a serious challenge.
“Amaechi should not have bothered himself,” he said.
The political analyst maintained that the outcome of the primary clearly showed Amaechi was never a major threat to Atiku’s ambition within the ADC.
He further expressed doubts about Atiku’s chances of securing strong backing from Southern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the ADC currently lacks influential southern politicians capable of delivering substantial votes.
According to Otubanjo, the party’s weak political structure in the South could hurt Atiku’s prospects.
“It was almost as if Amaechi was absent from the primary. At the moment, Atiku has no strong footing in the South,” he stated.
Otubanjo added that while Amaechi remains one of the few notable southern figures in the ADC, he does not consider the former Rivers governor a significant political asset to the party.