Vice-presidential candidate says security, education and the economy will be priorities under an ADC administration
Rotimi Amaechi, the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has vowed to resign if Nigeria does not begin to show significant improvement within one year of an ADC administration taking office in 2027.
Amaechi made the pledge during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today on Wednesday, saying an ADC government would prioritise security, education and the economy. He said tackling corruption would be central to addressing the country’s problems, arguing that public funds meant for critical sectors were being diverted into private hands.
“We must deal with three things. We must deal with security; we must deal with education; we must deal with the economy. And to do all that, corruption will have to come down because there’s no money for anybody to steal,” Amaechi said.
He criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying Nigerians have not sufficiently benefited from the policy. “President Tinubu removed subsidy. What are the benefits of subsidy? Subsidy money is in private pockets and they are celebrating,” he said.
Amaechi also condemned lavish social spending amid widespread poverty, saying he sometimes left such events early because he questioned the source of the funds on display. On the economy, he expressed concern about Nigeria’s dependence on imported finished goods, claiming the country now imports more than 46 per cent of such goods.
Referring to reports of Nigerians booing President Tinubu on his arrival at Lagos International Airport, Amaechi said an ADC government would seek to restore public confidence through its policies. “If we become president, nobody will do that; they will be clapping for us because we will change Nigeria,” he said.
His pledge followed a challenge from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who said President Tinubu should remove Mr. Wike from office if he fails to deliver the Federal Capital Territory for the President in the 2027 election. Amaechi reiterated that he was prepared to stake his position on the performance of an ADC administration: “If Nigeria does not begin to change one year after we’ve come to office, come to me, I will resign.”
