Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, has declared his intention to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, should he secure the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.
In a recent discussion on X Spaces, Amaechi asserted that he has never engaged in election rigging and has consistently declined appointments to serve on APC election planning committees.
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“I tell you, I’ve not faced Tinubu in an election. I know him well—his strengths and weaknesses. If I am allowed to represent the ADC, I am confident I will defeat Tinubu,” he stated.
He challenged any politician, living or deceased, to come forward and accuse him of involvement in rigging. “In fact, I have refused all appointments from the APC to join election planning committees. I have never participated in any of those discussions because I understand their implications. If I get the ticket, I will expose those discussions,” he added.
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Amaechi claimed that election rigging often involves state governors and the misappropriation of public funds through government agencies. “They will bring governors into the mix and siphon money from government agencies, but I prefer not to elaborate until after I win the primaries,” he noted.
He reiterated his commitment to integrity in the electoral process, stating, “I will never engage in any form of rigging. My focus will be on eradicating electoral malpractice if I am elected.”
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Amaechi also mentioned that he would only apologize for any wrongdoing if presented with concrete evidence of his involvement in such activities. “I challenge any Nigerian to provide proof that I participated in election rigging, and I will apologize,” he asserted.
He acknowledged that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), won in Rivers State during the 2023 election. “I would concede that Peter Obi won in Rivers State, but unfortunately, the official results were different. How that happened remains unclear to me,” he said.
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On July 3, Amaechi expressed his willingness to serve as a one-term president in 2027 if he secures the ADC presidential ticket. He emphasized his readiness to step down after four years to promote stability and rotation in leadership. “Given the current state of Nigeria, we must adhere to the unwritten agreement that stipulates eight years for the south and eight years for the north,” he concluded.
