Laolu Akande: Amaechi, Obi Best Positioned to Challenge Tinubu in 2027

Laolu Akande, former presidential aide, says Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi are best placed to confront President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Akande spoke on Friday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television.

On February 11, Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asked the party to consider fielding a southerner as its flagbearer for the 2027 election.

Days earlier, Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.

‘MEANINGFUL OPPOSITION CHALLENGE NEEDED’

Akande said a meaningful opposition challenge is necessary for the sustainability of democracy.

“A meaningful challenge, the way you put it, is actually desired. You know, I even think it’s an imperative for a sustainable democracy,” he said.

“And that’s the reason why, you know, all of us must hold our voice to the enlightenment of the democratic space.”

Akande said the continuation of the presidency in the south should be clear to opposition parties seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former presidential aide said uncertainty within opposition ranks, including what he described as the “shadows of Atiku Abubakar”, is affecting the emergence of a serious opposition.

“What ought to be clear by now, talking about the opposition, I mean the ADC, is that the presidency is going to stay in the south,” Akande said.

“And that is one of the ambivalences that is affecting the true emergence of a serious opposition, because we still have, you know, the shadows of Atiku Abubakar, who wants to run.

“I think we’ve gotten to a point in my view where the question of a national presidency has become a national concern. And it’s not wise, you know, for anybody to try to undercut that.”

‘AMAECHI, OBI SHOULD BE PUSHED FORWARD’

Akande urged opposition parties to rally behind experienced southern politicians such as Amaechi and Obi.

“If they were serious… people like Rotimi Amaechi, people like Peter Obi ought to be the ones to be pushed forward,” he said.

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“Look at Amaechi. Amaechi has been a speaker, he’s been a governor, he’s been a minister. He was second in the APC.

“Tremendous career in politics, opportunities in service… And he was the guy that was in charge of infrastructure development.”

Akande said the opposition needs a southern candidate with governance experience who can stand “head-to-head against President Tinubu”.

He warned that without such a candidate, Atiku could still dominate opposition politics ahead of the election.

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“As things stand now, if you keep on getting the vibes that Atiku wants to do it by his means, he will probably be able to forge his way through by some means, because he seems to be the strongest politician in the party. The shadows of Atiku are still hanging heavily,” he said.