A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said his experience in governance and infrastructure development positions him to address Nigeria’s challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, who spoke on The Morning Brief, said he understands the country’s problems and has the capacity to solve them.
“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor cited projects executed during his time in office, including rail lines and port development, as evidence of his capacity.
He also claimed to have tackled insecurity while serving in government, adding that his record sets him apart from other contenders.
Amaechi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, criticised the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, saying the economic situation had worsened.
According to him, many Nigerians are experiencing hardship and are dissatisfied with the state of the economy.
“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel, can’t travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing.
“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak, he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.
Amaechi also alleged attempts to weaken opposition parties, urging that institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary be allowed to operate independently.
“Whether free, fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election. The problem is he does not want a strong candidate on the ballot,” Amaechi stated.
Amaechi is among several prominent figures in the ADC positioning for the 2027 presidential race.
Other key figures in the opposition coalition include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential election.
The commission also scheduled party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, during which political parties are expected to select their candidates.
Punch/ Tunmise Adesanmi
