‘How Tinubu Can Be Defeated in 2027’ – Amaechi

• Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has called on Nigerians to vote massively in the 2027 presidential election to defeat President Bola Tinubu, saying the president’s 2023 loss in Lagos proves “he is not unbeatable.”

Former Rivers State Governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has urged Nigerians to mobilize ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure the defeat of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary lecture of First Daily Newspaper held in Abuja, Amaechi reminded Nigerians that Tinubu’s loss in Lagos State during the 2023 polls showed he is “not invincible.”

“The first solution to electoral reform is not the government — the people are the problem,” Amaechi said. “The more you say results have been written, the more you discourage voters. Voter apathy will make President Tinubu return to the Villa.”

Amaechi, who declared his intention to run for president in 2027, emphasized that Nigerians must reclaim their power by showing up to vote.

“Tell the people that power is in their hands. If Tinubu was truly invincible, how did he lose Lagos? It can happen again — but only if we act,” he added.

He further argued that expecting an incumbent government to reform the electoral system was unrealistic, citing past failures.

“No government in power has ever achieved true electoral reform — they all fail because of vested political interests,” he stated.

Amaechi also criticized opposition parties for their lack of unity and vision, saying internal crises weaken their capacity to challenge the ruling party.
“The opposition is the real problem. Nobody is seriously discussing how to save Nigeria,” he said.

In his remarks, former Bayelsa State Governor and senator, Seriake Dickson, described election rigging as “the worst coup against democracy.”

He condemned political manipulation of results by government officials, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling such acts a “violation of the people’s sovereignty.”

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“A coup against the people’s votes is worse than a coup against government,” Dickson said, urging the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to prevent falsification and protect citizens’ choices.

Delivering the keynote lecture, political scholar Dr. Sam Amadi criticized the growing link between electoral management and presidential power. He warned that Nigeria’s elections risk becoming mere formalities without independent institutions.

“Our elections are rigged in different ways. When everyone tied to election management is also tied to the President, neutrality disappears,” Amadi said.

The publisher of First Daily, Daniel Markson, lamented Nigeria’s continued governance failures, stating that flawed elections have kept the nation in crisis.

“I’m 55 years old, and I can’t remember any time Nigeria worked for me,” he said, announcing a national voter sensitization campaign by the newspaper next year.

Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria has struggled to achieve credible elections despite multiple reforms — from the introduction of the Smart Card Reader in 2015 to the BVAS system in 2023.

However, allegations of vote-buying, logistical failures, and INEC bias continue to cast doubt on the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process — a concern that remains central as the country heads toward 2027.