Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, says Atiku Abubakar has an “electability problem” despite repeatedly winning presidential primaries.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV on Monday, Amaechi said he was ready to face Atiku in a direct primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reacting to Atiku’s recent remark that he had never lost a presidential primary election, Amaechi said he hopes to defeat the former vice president in the ADC presidential primary.
“He started contesting in 1992. It’s his choice,” Amaechi said.
“I listened when the former vice-president said he has never failed primary before. I hope this will be the first time he will fail primary.”
Amaechi, however, argued that winning party primaries does not automatically translate into victory at the general election.
“The issue is that at all times you passed primary, you have not won election,” he said.
“So it’s about electability.”
The former minister questioned Atiku’s ability to defeat the ruling party if chosen as ADC’s presidential candidate.
“Can he win this election if you put him before the country?” Amaechi asked.
“And the answer I get is that he may not be able to win the election.”
Asked why he held that view, Amaechi pointed to Atiku’s previous electoral defeats.
“Because he has run against President Tinubu before and lost,” he said.
“That’s elementary analysis.”
Amaechi also spoke on the debate around zoning, saying he supports power rotation because Nigeria is still deeply divided along regional lines.
“Yes and no,” he said when asked if he believes in zoning.
“Yes, in the sense that the country is yet to prove itself as a united entity.”
According to him, if it is the turn of the south to produce the president, the arrangement should be respected.
“If it is the turn of the south, then it’s the turn of the south,” he said.
He added that if Atiku disagrees with zoning, the issue should be settled through the party’s primary election.
“Vice-President Atiku said he doesn’t believe in it,” Amaechi said.
“So let’s go to the primary.”
