Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has explained why he formed an opposition alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, citing worsening economic hardship in the country.

Amaechi, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Rivers State, made the comments in an interview with the BBC.

He lamented the current state of the country and said efforts were ongoing to form a political coalition that could bring about real change.

Amaechi said while he had not ruled out running for president again, only time would tell whether he would contest in 2027.

His remarks came less than a month after APC leaders endorsed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

However, Amaechi maintained his loyalty to the party but insisted that being a party member did not mean blind support for the government.

“If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right,” he said.

Amaechi said the responsible thing was to tell the government the truth and express the expectations of Nigerians.

He decried rising hunger and poverty in the country, narrating how he recently came across a corpse by the roadside — a situation he attributed to worsening food insecurity.

“People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger,” he said.

He said while some might assume he was insulated from the crisis, “the truth is, I’m also feeling the hunger.”

Though he said he was not planning to run for president, Amaechi added that it remained a possibility because he believed he still had something to offer.

“Certainly, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution,” he said.

Amaechi revealed that he was in talks with other concerned Nigerians, who believed the country was being mismanaged, to form a united front.

His statement came amid moves by major opposition figures, including AtikuAbubakar of PDP, Peter Obi of Labour Party, and Nasir El-Rufai of APC to form a coalition ahead of 2027.

El-Rufai had also recently disclosed that efforts were underway to build an alliance that could challenge Tinubu.

But several opposition politicians have decamped to APC in recent months, sparking fears of a drift toward a one-party system under Tinubu’s leadership.

Amaechi said the country had become stagnant, and ongoing consultations were focused on how to steer it back on track.

“We’re thinking that if we come together and win the election, the country will certainly witness change.”