Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Rivers State Governor and ex‑Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has launched a blistering political offensive against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dismissing the veteran politician’s decades‑long presidential ambition as an exercise in futility. Speaking during a primetime interview on Trust TV on Monday night, May 18 2026, Amaechi directly challenged the core of Atiku’s campaign narrative, declaring that while Atiku may boast of an unbroken streak of winning party tickets, the Turakin Adamawa remains fundamentally “not electable” because he has never converted those primary victories into success at the national poll.
“I listened when the former vice president said he never failed a primary before,” Amaechi stated, his tone sharp and deliberate. “I hope this will be the first time he will fail a primary. The issue is that at all times that you have passed a primary, you have not won an election. So it’s about electability.” The former minister’s comments, which have since gone viral, cut to the heart of a recurring criticism of Atiku’s political journey: a man who has successfully navigated the treacherous waters of internal party contests for nearly three decades but has consistently stumbled on the final lap of the presidential race.
Amaechi’s outburst was not an isolated remark but a calculated demolition of Atiku’s primary undefeated streak. The former Vice President, who began his presidential quest in 1992, has indeed won the ticket of his party on multiple occasions – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992, the Action Congress (AC) in 2007, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 and 2023. However, this primary dominance has never translated into Aso Rock occupancy. Atiku lost the 2007 general election, lost the 2019 election to Muhammadu Buhari, and lost the 2023 election to Bola Tinubu. Amaechi’s latest salvo, therefore, frames Atiku not as a perennial contender but as a serial also‑ran whose primary success is ultimately meaningless. “He has been running since 1992. Every time he has won the primaries, he loses the election,” Amaechi reiterated during the broadcast, as reported by Politics Nigeria. “It’s about electability and Atiku is not electable.”
The war of words is not merely personal; it is a proxy battle for the soul of the opposition coalition. Both Amaechi and Atiku are among three leading aspirants vying for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside economist Mohammed Hayatu‑Deen. The party has been paralyzed by internal discord, unable to agree on a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 election. Sources within the ADC told Naija News and SaharaReporters that the party’s presidential screening has already been postponed from Monday to Wednesday, May 20, 2026, due to the inability of the three gladiators to reach a compromise. “The party has failed to agree on a consensus candidate between Amaechi, Atiku and Hayatu‑Deen,” a party source disclosed, adding that the delay was necessary to prevent deeper divisions.
The internal crisis is compounded by financial challenges and accusations that Atiku is deliberately sabotaging consensus efforts. One source alleged, “Even their primaries date is now unsure; they don’t have money and Atiku not letting them have a consensus that doesn’t suit him.” Amaechi’s refusal to step aside and his open dismissal of Atiku’s electability thus places the ADC in a precarious position. If the party cannot resolve its leadership crisis, the much‑anticipated opposition coalition risks imploding before it even faces President Bola Tinubu.
Amaechi’s argument goes beyond mere attack politics. By focusing on “electability,” he is tapping into a deep well of voter fatigue with recycled candidates. He contrasted his own profile with Atiku’s, noting that he has never before run for president. “I’ve never run. If nothing else, I can argue that I’ve never run any presidential election,” Amaechi said, positioning himself as a fresh alternative. At the same time, he sought to reassure the opposition base by acknowledging the competence of his rivals. “If you give this country to Vice President Atiku to govern, I believe he would do well. Just as I think Governor Obi would do well. Honestly, both of them would do better than President Tinubu,” he said, before pivoting to his core argument about winning versus governing.
The timing of Amaechi’s assault is critical. The ADC’s presidential primary is scheduled for May 25, 2026, and the party is yet to even release a final list of cleared aspirants. Amaechi has vowed not to step down for anyone, directly challenging a potential consensus arrangement that would favour Atiku. In an interview with Channels Television, he reportedly said, “I hope this will be the first time he fails the primaries,” directly wishing for Atiku’s defeat at the very stage where the former vice president has historically excelled.
The ruling APC has watched the opposition’s internal warfare with evident amusement. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, had previously dismissed the ADC coalition as “twinkle little stars” making no political impact. Amaechi’s latest attack suggests that the ADC is not merely struggling to find a message; it is struggling to find a candidate who can survive its own internal contradictions. As the May 25 primary looms, the question is no longer whether the opposition can unite against Tinubu, but whether it can even agree on who should lead them into a battle they are already losing.
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