Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that 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 on Channels Television on Friday, 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 pointed to major projects executed during his time in office, including rail infrastructure and port development, as evidence of his track record and capacity to deliver results.
He also claimed to have taken steps to address insecurity while in government, insisting that his record distinguishes him from other presidential contenders.
Amaechi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the economic situation in the country has worsened.
According to him, many Nigerians are facing hardship due to rising living costs, including fuel prices and transportation.
“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.
“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 added.
He further alleged attempts to weaken opposition parties, calling for independence of key democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary.
“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,” he stated.
Rotimi Amaechi is among several prominent figures positioning for the 2027 presidential race under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside other opposition politicians.
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.
Other notable figures linked to opposition coalition discussions include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rauf Aregbesola.