amaechi

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has urged voters in Edo State to reject President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, describing those who vote for him as “mad.”

Amaechi made the remarks during an ADC stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Edo State, where he also accused Tinubu of prioritising financial interests over the welfare and economic needs of Nigerians.

“Only mad people will vote for Tinubu. If Edo people vote for President Tinubu, that means Edo people are mad. If you’re not mad, Tinubu should not win here,” Amaechi said.

The former Minister of Transportation also questioned the Federal Government’s decision to support the construction of another seaport in Ogun State, alleging that the project was motivated by the financial benefits it could generate rather than the state’s economic needs.

“So, Tinubu just hates you. No, I’m not joking. If Tinubu does not hate you, why is he building another seaport?” he asked.

“In Ogun, what are the goods we are producing? What goods are we producing to have as many as that number of seaports?

“It is not because he likes Ogun people. It is the money he will make out of the construction.”

Amaechi called on ADC supporters and other Nigerians opposed to Tinubu’s re-election bid to return to their communities and participate actively in the electoral process.

He cautioned that opposing the president would not be enough if voters failed to protect their votes during the elections.

“If you want Tinubu to go, please go home. Go home. Go home,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the conduct of election officials, arguing that voters should remain vigilant during the collation and announcement of results.

“Because all the returning officers are human beings. They are Nigerians. Those who take bribes and return fake results and suffer for four years,” Amaechi said.

His comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the ADC among the platforms seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amaechi served as Rivers State governor from 2007 to 2015 before becoming Minister of Transportation. He is now a prominent figure in the ADC-led opposition coalition.

The coming elections are expected to feature debates over economic conditions, insecurity, unemployment, public spending and electoral integrity as parties seek to mobilise support across the country.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has alleged that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration contributed to the death of his mother, citing the rising cost of medicines.

Mr Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, made the allegation on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

“Because policies are killing people. I’ve lost my mother,” he said.

When reminded that his mother died at the age of 82, Mr Amaechi questioned why she could not have lived longer, arguing that her health deteriorated after the administration’s economic policies took effect.

“You want me to mention my friends who are 90 or 92 years old? Why do you think my mother couldn’t live up to 92? Tinubu was the reason. Before Tinubu, my mother was healthy,” he said.

“Suddenly, by the time Tinubu came, it was difficult to buy drugs for my mother. I know most of you won’t believe this.”

Mr Amaechi said the rising cost of medicines had affected many Nigerian families, leaving some unable to afford essential healthcare for their ageing parents.

He cited figures he attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics, claiming Nigeria spent N200 billion on drug imports in the last quarter. He added that about 40 per cent of finished goods were imported, describing the situation as a sign of dependence on imported products.

Mr Amaechi has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, especially the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he has linked to the rising cost of living.

He also expressed confidence that an administration led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and himself would improve living conditions for Nigerians, saying citizens could begin to feel relief within a year.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has said an administration led by Atiku Abubakar would reduce the cost of fuel, transportation and food within its first year in office.

Amaechi made the claim on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and outlined some of the measures he said the ADC would introduce if elected in 2027.

He attributed the rising cost of living to the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies, saying Nigerians were struggling to afford basic necessities.

“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel or travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing,” he said.

Amaechi also criticised the Tinubu administration over electricity supply and said Nigerians were still waiting for improvements promised by the President.

“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak; he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.

According to Amaechi, Atiku has pledged to reintroduce subsidy measures as part of his plan to reduce the financial burden on Nigerians.

“Atiku said I should tell you people that he will bring back the subsidy. Tinubu removed subsidy for electricity bill. He said Band A, B and C,” Amaechi said.

He cited the increase in his household electricity bill as an example of the impact of the current tariff structure.

“My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said.

Amaechi also linked higher food and transportation costs to the removal of petrol subsidy.

“He just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased, tomatoes, corn, everything,” he said.

He added, “Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down.”

Amaechi clarified that the ADC was proposing a production subsidy rather than a return to the former consumer subsidy arrangement.

“The greatest asset you have is that the presidential candidate has said, I will bring back subsidy. We are not saying we are putting back consumer subsidy. We say we are putting back production subsidy,” he said.

On education, Amaechi claimed that the number of out-of-school children had risen from 12 million to 20 million under the Tinubu administration, while putting the number of illiterate Nigerians at 92 million.

“The number of out-of-school children has risen from 12 million to 20 million under Tinubu,” he said.

He also linked worsening insecurity to difficulties faced by farmers in accessing their farmlands.

“Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care,” he said.

Explaining his decision to contest the 2027 election, Amaechi said his motivation was based on his understanding of Nigeria’s challenges.

“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.

He also expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances if the party appears on the ballot in 2027, saying:

“Whether free and fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election,” Amaechi added.

Amaechi’s comments came on the same day he said he would withdraw from Atiku’s ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol falls to N600 per litre, according to Channels Television’s report of the interview.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has confirmed that it has submitted the names and personal details of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 general election.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday night by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement shared on X.

According to the party, the nomination details of both candidates have already been uploaded to INEC’s nomination portal.

The announcement signals a major step in the ADC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Amaechi, a former minister of transportation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are expected to lead the party’s campaign in the next general election.

Further details regarding the nomination process and the party’s plans are still being awaited.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has selected ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Confirmation of the development came from Leader Sampson, the immediate past chairman of the ADC in Rivers State, who spoke on the matter on Saturday.

Amaechi was among the aspirants who contested the party’s presidential primary. However, he lost the ticket to Atiku.

Before the primary election took place, Amaechi had publicly stated that he did not obtain the ADC presidential nomination form with the intention of later accepting a vice-presidential position.

The former Rivers State governor also rejected the outcome of the primary election after it was concluded. His position aligned with complaints raised by some dissatisfied party members who alleged that the exercise was manipulated in Atiku’s favour.

Despite his earlier stance, indications now suggest that the two politicians have reached an agreement ahead of the general election.

When asked whether Amaechi had accepted the vice-presidential slot, Leader Sampson responded briefly, saying, “yes.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s claim that he was solely responsible for the emergence of late former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

Tinubu had repeatedly maintained that Buhari’s earlier failed attempts at the presidency ended only after he persuaded him to contest again and helped build the political coalition that secured victory in 2015. He also stated that Buhari would not have won without his intervention and support.

Amaechi, however, insisted that several key figures contributed to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the eventual defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election.

Speaking in an interview with AriseTV on Friday, Amaechi said he played a leading role in the campaign structure and political mobilisation that produced Buhari as president.

“When we decided to form the APC, while I was a minister, President Tinubu was claiming he made Buhari president, and I couldn’t respond because I was the minister under President Buhari,” Amaechi said in an interview with AriseTV on Friday.

He explained that his position at the time limited his response to public political disagreements.

“That will be suicidal because Buhari could fire you. So I couldn’t have said no then. He wasn’t the president. I couldn’t tell him, ‘You are wrong. You didn’t make President Buhari president’.

”Not only was I the DG of the campaign, but everybody will bear witness that I did all the battle.”

Amaechi further stated that he coordinated nationwide political engagements in his capacity as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and as director-general of Buhari’s presidential campaign.

“I led the governors’ forum. I crisscrossed the country fighting here and there,” he said.

He also reflected on the performance of the APC-led administration after it came into power under the “change” slogan in 2015, noting that the results were mixed across different sectors.

“Did we achieve the change? Here and there. In some areas, well, we did. In some areas, we did not,” he said.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has launched scathing corruption allegations against his political rival and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of enriching his family through government agencies.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike vehemently denied Amaechi’s recent claims of disliking money while portraying his wife as merely a businesswoman.

Wike labelled Amaechi a “liar” and alleged systematic corruption.Wike’s key accusations include:

1.NDDC Payments: Claiming Amaechi’s wife received ₦4 billion monthly for one year, totaling ₦48 billion, from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

2.Contract Facilitation:Asserting that as Minister of Transportation, Amaechi facilitated government contracts for his wife within agencies under his ministry – specifically the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

3.Agencies’ Debt Motive: Suggesting Amaechi’s recent mention of NPA and NIMASA owing contractors stemmed from debts owed to his wife’s companies.

4.Rolls Royce Gift: Condemning Amaechi for allegedly accepting a Rolls Royce as a gift from a contractor working for Rivers State in 2014.

Wike challenged President Bola Tinubu to release a forensic audit report on the NDDC, vowing it would expose Amaechi’s wife’s dealings.

He staked his position, declaring, “should the allegations be found untrue, he is ready to resign as FCT Minister.”

These accusations mark a significant escalation in the long-running feud between the two prominent Rivers State politicians. Amaechi is yet to publicly respond to these specific claims.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a bold and unflinching statement, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has voiced the frustrations of many Nigerians amid the worsening economic crisis.

“We are all hungry. If you’re not feeling the hunger, I certainly am… If you want us to get rid of the man in charge, we can certainly do that,” Amaechi declared during a public event.

His remarks have sparked intense debate, with some viewing them as a direct challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has faced mounting criticism over inflation, insecurity, and economic hardship.

A former APC presidential aspirant and ex-Rivers State governor, Amaechi’s comments suggest growing discontent within the ruling party.