Otubanjo Declares Amaechi Unfit For Presidential Contest

According to Ireporter Online, the Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Femi Otubanjo, has expressed surprise over the presidential ambition of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, describing his bid as lacking the necessary political weight.

Otubanjo made the remarks during an interview on Arise News TV’s morning programme, where he questioned Amaechi’s decision to contest the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He argued that Amaechi did not possess the required political structure or influence to mount a serious challenge, insisting that the former Minister of Transportation should not have entered the race in the first place. According to him, the outcome of the primary confirmed that Amaechi posed little or no threat to Atiku’s ambition within the party.

The political analyst further maintained that Amaechi’s repeated declarations of presidential interest did not translate into real political strength, adding that Nigerian politics was often mistaken for “incantation,” where repeated statements are assumed to create capability.

Otubanjo also cast doubt on Atiku Abubakar’s chances of securing strong backing from the southern region in the 2027 presidential election, stating that the ADC currently lacks influential southern political figures capable of delivering substantial votes.

He noted that the party’s weak presence in the South could undermine Atiku’s overall electoral prospects, adding that Amaechi remains the only recognizable southern figure within the ADC, though he described him as lacking electoral value.