“I’m Too Presidential to Be Vice”: Amaechi Rules Out Running Mate Role Ahead of 2027 Election

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has firmly ruled out the possibility of serving as a vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, declaring that he will not deputise for any presidential hopeful.

The former Rivers State governor made the declaration at a public event in Abuja, amid growing political speculation linking him as a potential running mate to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is widely tipped to seek the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Amaechi dismissed the speculation outright, insisting that he has no interest in the vice-presidential office.

“I will not be vice president to anybody. There are too many reasons why I won’t be vice president to anybody. The first reason is that I’m too presidential to be vice,” he said.

The former minister, who is also believed to be eyeing the ADC presidential ticket, argued that the challenges of the vice-presidential office in Nigeria go beyond symbolism.

According to him, the role is structurally weak, designed to be subordinate and heavily dependent on the disposition of the president.

Amaechi warned that such a power imbalance often breeds friction within government, making the position unattractive to him.

“The problem with the office of vice president is not ceremonial, it is structural. In Nigeria, the vice president is often powerless and subject to the temperament of the president,” he said.

He added that serving as vice president could easily lead to internal conflicts within an administration, stressing that he would rather take up a ministerial position than accept a deputy role.

“We will quarrel. Instead of that, I would rather be a minister than be a vice president,” Amaechi concluded.

His comments are expected to reshape ongoing political calculations within opposition circles as the race toward 2027 gradually takes shape.