Nigerians must vote massively to defeat Tinubu in 2027 – Amaechi

Former Rivers State governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has urged Nigerians to turn out in large numbers during the 2027 general elections to ensure the defeat of President Bola Tinubu.

Amaechi, who recently declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2027, said Tinubu’s defeat in Lagos during the 2023 elections proved that the president is “not invincible.”

Speaking at the fifth anniversary lecture of First Daily newspaper in Abuja on Monday, Amaechi warned that voter apathy could pave the way for Tinubu’s re-election. The event, chaired by former Bayelsa State governor and serving senator, Seriake Dickson, was themed “2027: How Can We Make Our Votes Count?”

“The first solution to electoral reform is not the government. The people are the problem,” Amaechi said in a report by Punch newspaper. “The more you say they have written the results, the more you encourage voter apathy. Voter apathy will make President Bola Tinubu return to the Villa.”

He urged citizens to take responsibility for the electoral process and reject the notion that elections are predetermined. “Tell the people the power is in your hands. Come out. If Tinubu is that invincible, how was he defeated in Lagos? It can be repeated,” he said.

Amaechi also argued that meaningful electoral reform cannot be expected from the incumbent government, as vested interests often hinder progress. “There is no incumbent government that can achieve electoral reform. None. We have tried it and failed,” he stated.

The former Minister of Transportation further criticised opposition parties for their internal divisions and lack of strategic direction. “The opposition is the problem. Opposition parties are not discussing how to save Nigeria,” he said.

In his remarks, Senator Seriake Dickson described election rigging as “the worst coup against democracy,” accusing politicians, government officials, and security agencies of subverting the people’s will. “Rigging of elections is the worst coup you can plan,” Dickson said. “When politicians, governments, and the electoral umpire collude to write results that have no reference to the people, that is a coup against democracy and the sovereignty of Nigerians.”