Amaechi: I’ll defeat Tinubu in 2027 if I get ADC ticket

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, says he will defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election if he gets the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket. 

Speaking on Saturday during a conversation on X Spaces, Amaechi also said he has never participated in election rigging, adding that he has consistently turned down appointments to serve on APC election planning committees.

“I tell you, I’ve not had an election against Tinubu. I know Tinubu very well. I know his strengths. I know his weaknesses. And I know that if allowed to fly the flag of ADC, I will defeat Tinubu for sure,” he said.

“I challenge any politician, living or dead, to come forward and say I was part of rigging.

“In fact, all the appointments given to me by APC to join election planning committees, I have refused to participate.

“There was no one I participated in. Why? Because I know what they discuss. I listen to them. I hear them. If I get the ticket, I will reveal those things.”

He alleged that election rigging often involves state governors and the diversion of public funds through government agencies.

“They will bring governors. They will go to government agencies and get money, but the rest, I don’t want to say it until I win primaries,” he said.

Amaechi promised never to engage in rigging, saying his focus would be to stop electoral malpractice if elected.

“I will never participate in any rigging whatsoever, and I will not do it. What I promise to do now, going forward, is to stop rigging,” he said.

He added that he would only apologise for wrongdoing if evidence proved he committed a crime.

“I challenge any Nigerian to produce evidence that I participated in any election rigging, and I will apologise for that,” he said.

Amaechi admitted that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), won in Rivers state during the 2023 election.

“I would agree to an extent that Peter Obi won in Rivers state, but unfortunately, the result that came out was different. How it happened, I have no idea,” he said.

On July 3, Amaechi said he is willing to be a one-term president in 2027 if he secures the presidential ticket of the ADC.

The former governor of Rivers said he is prepared to step down after four years in office to allow for rotation and stability.