By Suleiman Anyalewechi
“Atiku has an uncanny way of muscling himself through every Primary but has always performed abysmally at the main poll”
Immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has cast strong doubts over the electability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the country’s topmost job.
This is as he reiterated his resolve not to play the second fiddle to anybody in the countdown to the 2027 presidential contest.
Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State and Atiku are among the presidential aspirants on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
Speaking in an interview with the Trust TV Monday night, Amaechi questioned the chances of Atiku winning the Presidency.
According to him, time and facts on the ground have proven beyond doubt that Atiku does not possess the requisite national appeal and electoral strength to transform consistent primaries victories into successes in general elections.
X-raying the former Vice President’s chequered and long foray into the presidential race, the former Rivers State Governor emphasized that victories in indirect primaries do no guarantee success at the main polls.
According to him, Atiku, over the years has demonstrated the uncanny ability to muscle his way out of every primaries, but has also consistently performed abysmally in general elections proper.
Ahead of the ADC primaries that pitch both political actors, Amaechi asserted that it is completely meaningless to secure the primaries and lose the general elections.
He noted that there is a whole world of difference between winning a party’s ticket and attracting nationwide support capable of securing electoral victory for the party.
“He ( Atiku) has been contesting for the presidency since 1992. And everytime he wins the primaries, he also loses the general elections.
“This is not just about winning party primaries. It is about electability and Atiku has been proven severally he is not electable”, Amaechi stated.
He emphasized that the party should look beyond the issue of just securing victory at the primaries and think about how to win the people’s confidence at the polls proper.
“I listen when some people say former Vice President Atiku has never failed at the level of primaries before.
“I hope this will be the first time he fails at the primaries. That is not the issue, any way. The issue is that everytime he has passed the primaries, he has not won the election” he noted.
Amaechi further stated that globally, political parties tend to field candidates with national appeal and ability to win the trust and support of people across all lines, not just those who can win party primaries.
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