Amaechi Warns Nigerians To Stop Voter Apathy And Ensure Massive Participation To Defeat President Tinubu In 2027

 

Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State, has declared that President Bola Tinubu is not invincible, urging Nigerians to actively participate in the 2027 elections to prevent him from securing a second term. Speaking at the fifth anniversary lecture of the First Daily newspaper in Abuja on Monday, Amaechi emphasized that citizens hold the key to political change and must not underestimate their collective power.

Highlighting Tinubu’s defeat in Lagos State during the 2023 elections, Amaechi stressed that this serves as evidence that the current president is beatable. “If Tinubu is that invincible, how was he defeated in Lagos? It can be repeated, but first and foremost, you must agree that the man there is not invincible,” he said.

The former Minister of Transportation linked electoral malpractice partly to voter apathy, warning that complacency among citizens allows manipulation of election outcomes. “The first solution to electoral reform is not the government. The people are the problem. The more you say they have written the results, the more you have voter apathy. Voter apathy will make President Bola Tinubu return to Villa,” Amaechi cautioned.

Amaechi urged Nigerians to recognize that the power of democracy lies in their hands, not solely with politicians or government authorities. He insisted that citizens must take responsibility for participating in elections and actively demanding accountability to create real change. “Tell the people the power is in your hands. Come out. It can be repeated if the opposition becomes organized,” he added.

Addressing the opposition, Amaechi criticized political parties for their lack of cohesion and strategy, suggesting that internal divisions weaken their ability to challenge the ruling party effectively. He urged opposition leaders to focus on presenting credible alternatives and developing practical plans to address national issues rather than merely criticizing the government. “I tell the opposition parties that you’re the problem. The opposition party is not discussing how to save Nigeria. Nobody is saying, oh, things are bad, how do we change the candidate,” he noted.

Amaechi also described electoral reform as an unrealistic expectation for incumbent governments, citing vested interests within the political class as a persistent obstacle. He argued that attempts at reform have repeatedly failed because those in power often resist changes that could undermine their influence.

He concluded by reminding Nigerians that the upcoming 2027 elections represent an opportunity to redefine the country’s political trajectory. Massive voter turnout, he said, is essential to ensuring that the presidency is accountable to the people and that the democratic process is genuinely respected. Amaechi’s message was clear: political change is achievable, but it requires active participation, unity, and determination from both citizens and opposition parties alike.