Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has decisively ruled himself out of deputising any presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, a stance that effectively shuts the door on speculation linking him to a possible vice-presidential slot under Atiku Abubakar.
Amaechi’s declaration, grounded in his long political résumé as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor, and federal minister, signals that he sees himself only as a principal contender — not a deputy — in the unfolding 2027 permutations.
The former Rivers governor has been repeatedly mentioned in political circles as a possible running mate to Atiku, who is believed to be positioning himself for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, speaking at a public event in Abuja, Amaechi dismissed all such calculations, making it clear that Atiku should count on him as a vice-presidential option.
“I will not be vice president to anybody. There are too many reasons why I won’t be vice president to anybody.
The first reason is that I’m too presidential to be vice,” Amaechi said.
By explicitly framing himself as “too presidential,” Amaechi not only ruled out deputising Atiku but also underscored that any coalition talks placing him below another candidate are dead on arrival — forcing Atiku and other opposition figures to seek alternative configurations.
Amaechi, who is also eyeing the ADC presidential ticket, argued that the problem with the vice-presidential office in Nigeria is structural rather than ceremonial, insisting it is designed to be weak and subordinate.
According to him, the vice president’s relevance often depends entirely on the temperament of the president.
“We will quarrel. Instead of that, I would rather be a minister than be a vice president,” he added.
Amaechi’s position now reshapes opposition calculations ahead of 2027, narrowing coalition options and reinforcing his intention to contest only at the very top of the political ladder.