Amaechi Urges Citizens to Rise Ahead of 2027, Says Tinubu Can Be Defeated

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has called on opposition parties and everyday Nigerians to get involved early in preparations for the 2027 elections. He believes President Bola Tinubu is not unbeatable and that strong voter turnout can change the game.

Speaking at the National Electoral Reforms Summit in Abuja, Amaechi warned against staying silent and letting civic groups fade away. He stressed that elections are not fixed unless people allow them to be.

“When you say the president is invincible, he is not invincible. I’ve worked with him and I know him. When you say the results are already written, they are happy to spread that narrative so people won’t come out,” he said.

He added, “If you come out en masse, nobody will write any results. Nobody will take away the result sheets. Anyone who tries it will only be creating problems for himself.”

Amaechi, who once led the APC presidential campaign, criticized politicians and government institutions for failing to uphold accountability. He said real change won’t come from the top—it has to be pushed by the people.

He also pointed out that groups like the Nigeria Labour Congress, ASUU, and NANS are no longer reliable for rallying the public. “Don’t wait for the NLC. There is no NLC. There is also no ASUU or NANS anymore. If you are waiting for the government to initiate any reform, you are wasting your time,” he said.

He urged citizens to resist any attempts to block fair elections before the next vote.

Amaechi didn’t hold back on the country’s economic struggles either. He said hunger is everywhere, no matter your status. “The other day, I said Nigerians are hungry. If they are not hungry, I’m hungry. But whether I’m hungry or not, are Nigerians not hungry?” he asked.

He blamed political favoritism and shady deals between contractors and politicians for making inequality worse and weakening democracy.

His comments came shortly after Senator Orji Uzor Kalu claimed Tinubu would have no real competition in 2027, calling it a “Tinubu versus Tinubu” race. Amaechi’s message, however, was clear—change is possible, but only if people show up and demand it.