A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said his experience in governance and infrastructure development equips him to tackle Nigeria’s challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, who spoke on Channels Television, said he understands the country’s problems and has the competence to address 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 governor of Rivers State pointed to projects executed during his time in office, particularly in rail transportation and port development, as evidence of his capacity to deliver results. He also maintained that he made efforts to address insecurity while serving in government.
Amaechi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the economic situation has deteriorated and citizens are facing increasing hardship.
“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,” he said.
He further stated, “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.”
Amaechi also alleged efforts to undermine opposition parties, calling for stronger institutional independence, particularly for the electoral body and the judiciary.
“Whether free, fair or not free, if we are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election. The problem is he does not want a strong candidate on the ballot,” he added.
Amaechi is among several prominent figures within the ADC positioning for the 2027 presidential race. Others linked to the broader opposition coalition include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rauf Aregbesola.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential election for January 16, 2027, while party primaries are expected to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026.