Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi made the remarks during an interview on ARISE News, where he also defended the record of former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has performed worse in comparison.
Reacting to criticisms of the Buhari administration, Amaechi admitted that the APC government did not fully deliver on all its promises after assuming power in 2015, but insisted it achieved progress in certain areas.
“Did we achieve the change? Here and there. In some areas, well, we did. In some areas, we did not,” he stated.
The former Rivers State governor, who played a key role in the coalition that ended the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015, said he was instrumental in Buhari’s emergence as president.
“Not only was I the DG of the campaign, but everybody would bear witness that I did all the battle,” he said.
Amaechi, however, alleged that the APC-led federal government is using state institutions to intimidate opposition figures and suppress rival political parties ahead of the next election cycle.
“APC, if they say they are strong, why are they not allowing the opposition to have their political parties? Why are they influencing political and government institutions against the opposition?” he queried.
He further alleged that dissenting voices are increasingly being targeted by authorities.
“If you say anything, you’re locked up,” he claimed.
Amaechi pledged that if elected president in 2027 under the ADC platform, his administration would focus on strengthening the rule of law, improving security, and creating jobs for Nigerians.
“The first thing I would do as president of Nigeria is rule of law. There has to be law and order,” he said.
Speaking on insecurity, the former minister linked terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping to rising poverty and unemployment across the country.
“Nobody was born to be a terrorist. Circumstances and environment force you to be a terrorist,” he stated.
Amaechi proposed large-scale housing projects and mechanised agriculture as strategies to generate employment and reduce crime.
“Just imagine that we built 300,000 houses in Kano. That would be 300,000 masons, 300,000 carpenters, 300,000 contractors. The more jobs you create, the more you take people away from crime,” he explained.
He also cautioned Nigerians against voting along ethnic or regional lines, urging citizens to elect leaders based on competence and proven performance rather than tribal affiliations.
“At the end of the day, there’s no market for Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Ikwerre or Igbo. The market is currency, and kobo,” Amaechi added.
