Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are already in “panic mode” ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, a key figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the allegation while addressing supporters in Rivers State. According to him, the President and top APC officials are not as popular as they claim.
He further accused the ruling party of attempting to intimidate voters as the next election cycle approaches.
“I thought the President said they were popular. I thought those people you were asking me about were popular,” Amaechi said. “All these things that they are doing are panic measures. They are scared. If you’re not scared, let us meet on the field and allow the people to choose who they want.”
The former Rivers State governor alleged that the APC was trying to impose political leaders on Nigerians instead of allowing a free democratic choice.
“What they are doing is trying to force people on the people; to force politicians on the people. What the ADC provides is an opportunity for citizens to choose the right person,” he added.
Speaking on strategies to address voter apathy in the 2027 elections, Amaechi said the ADC would focus heavily on grassroots mobilisation to encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process.
“Our countermeasure to intimidation is mobilisation. We must bring out the people. The reason they are doing what they are doing is because they want apathy. They don’t want people to come out and vote,” he said.
Amaechi argued that increased voter turnout would work against the APC, insisting that Nigerians would question the achievements of the current administration.
“The noise was about the Lagos-Calabar coastal road. Where is the Lagos-Calabar coastal road?” he asked.
The former minister also highlighted projects he executed during his tenure, stating that he could provide evidence of the infrastructure delivered under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I was Minister for Transport; I can show the evidence of what I have done,” Amaechi said, maintaining that Nigerians across regions and political affiliations benefited from the projects implemented during the previous administration.
He further challenged the current government to point to concrete achievements across the country.