By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyenkachukwu
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has stirred political debate with a claim that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, actually won the presidential election in Rivers State.
Speaking on Saturday during an X Space discussion, Amaechi said, “I can agree with you to some extent that Obi won Rivers State, but I don’t know how the results were changed.”
His statement has reignited arguments over the February 2023 presidential election in the state, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
In a further revelation during the discussion, Amaechi disclosed that he and former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, initiated behind-the-scenes talks that eventually gave rise to a formidable opposition coalition.
According to him, the coalition, which began as a private conversation between himself and Fayemi, has since grown to attract heavyweight political figures determined to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 general elections.
He listed some of the prominent figures involved as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and Boss Mustapha, and former Senate President David Mark.
Others include former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola and ex-Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, among others, signalling a rare convergence of politicians across different political divides.
Amaechi said the new political alliance has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, a move seen as a strategic step towards mounting a strong challenge to the APC’s dominance.
The development, political observers say, could mark a major shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, especially with the calibre of figures rallying under the coalition’s umbrella.
His comments on Peter Obi’s supposed victory in Rivers State have also reignited discussions on electoral transparency and the credibility of the 2023 polls.
As reactions continue to trail Amaechi’s disclosure, political analysts believe the coalition’s emergence could set the tone for one of the most competitive election cycles in the country’s recent history.