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| Rotimi Amaechi |
Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed confidence that he can defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if he emerges as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate.
Speaking during an X Spaces conversation on Saturday, Amaechi said his familiarity with Tinubu’s political style gives him an advantage.
“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 stated.
The former Rivers State governor maintained that he has never participated in electoral malpractice, noting that he had repeatedly turned down offers to serve on the All Progressives Congress (APC) election planning committees.
“I challenge any politician, living or dead, to say I was part of rigging,” Amaechi said. “All the appointments given to me by APC to join election planning committees, I refused. I know what they discuss. I listen to them. I hear them. If I get the ticket, I will reveal those things.”
He accused state governors and government agencies of playing key roles in election rigging through the diversion of public funds.
“They will bring governors. They will go to government agencies and get money, but the rest I don’t want to say until I win the primaries,” he added.
Amaechi promised to end electoral malpractice if elected president.
“I will never participate in any rigging whatsoever. My promise going forward is to stop rigging,” he pledged.
He also disclosed that he and former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, initiated discussions that led to the formation of the current opposition coalition, which has now adopted ADC as its platform.
The coalition includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and Boss Mustapha, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.