BREAKING: 2027: Amaechi Best Suited as Atiku’s Running Mate, SPPAF Cannot Speak for Southern Nigeria – CSYPF

​LAGOS – The political landscape within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) continues to generate intensity as the Coalition of Southern Youth Progressives Forum (CSYPF) has launched a vigorous defense of the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, following recent public criticism from a group styling itself as the Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum (SPPAF).

​In a sharply worded response released in Lagos today, the Coordinator of the CSYPF, Comrade Dr. Dozie Nwankodu, dismissed the SPPAF’s recent press release as the work of “faceless political mercenaries” attempting to sow discord within the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

​The controversy stems from statements made by the SPPAF convener, Anga Fidelis, who recently questioned Amaechi’s political relevance, alleging that the former Rivers State Governor could not deliver his home ward and labeling him a “political liability.”

​Rejecting these claims, Dr. Nwankodu characterised the SPPAF as an obscure entity with no standing to speak for the people of Southern Nigeria.

“The barking of a thousand faceless puppets cannot drown the footsteps of a giant.

“We state emphatically that no organisation, individual or coalition has been constitutionally empowered to appoint itself the mouthpiece of the South.

“The South is neither an estate to be inherited nor a franchise to be monopolised.

“Southern Nigeria is a mosaic of sophisticated political tendencies, distinguished elder statesmen, eminent academics, youth organisations, civil society institutions, professional bodies, labour movements, traditional institutions, business communities and millions of discerning citizens who reserve the constitutional right to determine their political preferences without intimidation or unsolicited guardianship.

“Consequently, any organisation that seeks to impose its opinion as the collective verdict of the South merely advertises its own political ambition rather than the democratic will of the people.

“Rotimi Amaechi has paid his dues in the currency of hard work, visible infrastructure, and courageous leadership. We will not allow political scavengers to define the narrative for the Southern youth,” Dr. Nwankodu stated in his address to the press.

​The CSYPF emphasised that the Atiku-Amaechi ticket represents a “unity and rescue” mission for Nigeria.

According to the coalition, Amaechi’s pedigree—spanning his tenure as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, his two-term governorship, and his service as Minister of Transportation—remains unmatched in contemporary politics.

“One of the greatest threats to democratic development is the deliberate rewriting of history for transient political convenience.
Nigeria cannot build a stable democratic future if every accomplished public servant is reduced to partisan propaganda whenever elections approach.

“Great nations honour experience; serious democracies evaluate leaders on competence; responsible societies preserve institutional memory.

“It is therefore intellectually dishonest to dismiss one of Nigeria’s most experienced public administrators simply because political interests demand a convenient villain. The Coalition refuses to participate in such revisionism.

“His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

“Few living politicians possess his combination of legislative experience, executive leadership, administrative capacity and national political exposure.

“His journey through public service represents decades of uninterrupted commitment to democratic governance.

“He served with distinction as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, where he later emerged as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures.
He became a two-term Executive Governor of Rivers State, and subsequently Chairman of the influential Nigeria Governors’ Forum, where he played a significant role in national policy discussions among state executives.
He later served as Director-General of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation for two consecutive times, before being appointed Minister of Transportation, where he became one of the longest-serving ministers in that administration.

“These are not ordinary political appointments.
They are positions earned through demonstrated capacity, strategic leadership and public confidence.
Political offices of such magnitude are entrusted only to individuals whose competence has been tested repeatedly under demanding national circumstances.

“As Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi’s administration pursued significant investments in education, road construction, urban renewal and institutional reforms.
His government sought to modernise public schools, improve transportation networks and strengthen public institutions.

“Many of the developmental initiatives associated with his tenure continue to form part of discussions about governance and infrastructure in Rivers State.

“Leadership should be evaluated not by political slogans, but by tangible efforts to improve the lives of citizens.

“As Minister of Transportation, Amaechi presided over a period in which railway transportation returned to the forefront of Nigeria’s infrastructure agenda.
Major rail projects—including the Abuja–Kaduna Railway, the Lagos–Ibadan Railway and progress on other strategic corridors—became central components of the Federal Government’s transport modernisation efforts.

“His tenure also renewed public conversation about multimodal transportation, logistics, connectivity and infrastructure-driven economic growth.

“Whether one agrees with every policy or not, the scale of transportation development during those years remains part of the country’s recent administrative history.

“Public service deserves objective evaluation rather than selective recollection.

“Political relevance cannot be measured solely by the outcome of individual elections.
If that were the standard, many globally respected democratic leaders would never have returned to public office after electoral setbacks.

“True political relevance is measured by institutional influence, national recognition, administrative competence, intellectual contribution and the ability to shape public discourse.
By these standards, Amaechi remains one of Nigeria’s foremost political figures.

“His voice continues to command national attention because his experience spans virtually every level of democratic governance.

The Coalition of Southern Youth Progressives Forum believes that Nigeria’s next administration must prioritise competence above propaganda, experience above sentiment and national capacity above sectional politics.

“The Coalition of Southern Youth Progressives Forum, like every other forward-thinking group supports His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the best choice for the Vice Presidential candidate of the ADC because we believe he embodies:

1. Administrative competence.

2. Democratic resilience.

3. Legislative experience.

4. Executive excellence.

5. National acceptability.

6. Intellectual depth.

7. Strategic vision.

8. Courage under political pressure, and

9. Commitment to public service.

“These are qualities required in a Vice President.

“The office demands far more than electoral calculations.

“It requires a leader capable of supporting national decision-making, providing strategic counsel and contributing meaningfully to governance.

​”It is therefore glaring that Amaechi’s track record is etched in steel and concrete across the length and breadth of this country,” Dr. Nwankodu added.

“If the detractors are so confident, let them step out from the shadows of their press releases and face the verdict of the electorate, rather than hiding behind malicious propaganda.”

​The ADC leadership recently announced the formal pairing of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, framing it as a strategic alliance designed to bridge regional, generational, and political divides.

Supporters within the party argue that the combination brings together Atiku’s extensive national reach and Amaechi’s executive experience in reform and infrastructure.

​Political analysts note that the internal friction comes at a sensitive time for the ADC, which is currently navigating both the complexities of a competitive presidential primary aftermath and ongoing legal challenges regarding its registration status.

Despite these headwinds, the CSYPF remains steadfast, calling on Nigerians to focus on the substantive policy visions of the candidates rather than the “politics of character assassination” employed by rival camps.

​The coalition concluded its statement by calling for unity among all coalition partners and stakeholders, asserting that the path to 2027 must be paved with competence and a commitment to national development, rather than the “politics of division” they attribute to the SPPAF.