…Says he won’t step down for any candidate
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has again said he will contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC).
The former Rivers state governor said that he will not withdraw in favour of any other aspirant.
Speaking with newsmen in Kano State on Wednesday, after a meeting with a group of traders, Amaechi declared that only a transparent primary and the will of the people would determine the party’s flag bearer. “I will contest the ADC presidential primary, and by God’s grace, I hope to win so that I can face Tinubu in 2027. I am not stepping down for anyone. Let the people decide who they want to lead”, he declared.
Amaechi criticised the state of the nation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that Nigerians were growing weary of economic hardship and insecurity. According to him, fostering internal democracy within the ADC would not only strengthen the party but also provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.
“Whether the government wants to conduct credible elections or not, one thing is certain—time is up. Nigerians are tired; because no one is happy under Tinubu, not even in Rivers or across the South. People are suffering everywhere”, he added.
“If you look at all those aspiring, including Tinubu, who is better prepared than I am? My candidacy offers unity, because I come from the South, and we are not in conflict with any region”, he said.
Earlier in the day, Amaechi paid a condolence visit to the family of the Late Aminu Alhassan Ɗantata in Kano.
His latest declaration follows a recent statement in which he vowed to defeat President Tinubu in 2027 if selected as the ADC candidate.
Speaking during an X conversation earlier in the month, he said his knowledge of Tinubu’s political style gives him an advantage.
Amaechi also disclosed that he and former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, were among those who initiated talks that gave birth to the current opposition coalition.
The bloc, which has adopted the ADC as its political platform, includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Boss Mustapha, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Interior Minister Ra’uf Aregbesola, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.
