Former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has announced full support for the eventual presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. He made the statement on Wednesday while addressing a large crowd of supporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Amaechi, who recently severed ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urged Rivers indigenes to rally behind the ADC and prepare to unseat the APC-led federal government, citing widespread poverty and economic hardship across the country.
“If you’re not tired of President Tinubu, I am. If you’re not hungry, I’m hungry,” Amaechi declared. “Every Rivers man who thinks good of the state and country should move to register with the ADC and ensure that we remove the current government and stop the hunger that everybody is suffering from.”
He emphasized that the ADC coalition remains committed to conducting a free, fair, and transparent presidential primary, pledging that all coalition leaders would support whoever emerges as the party’s standard bearer.
In what appeared to be a show of strength, Amaechi trekked approximately three kilometers through Port Harcourt to his residence in Old GRA, in a move interpreted by observers as a symbolic challenge to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s influence in the state.
ADC Gains Support as Discontent Grows
Also throwing their weight behind the ADC was the Non-indigenes Alliance Movement (NIAM), Port Harcourt chapter. NIAM’s leader, Chief Mike Oyiakhire, expressed frustration with the APC’s performance and reaffirmed support for any candidate the ADC nominates.
“APC has destroyed this country with bad governance. ADC has come to change that narrative,” said Oyiakhire.
Meanwhile, ADC national spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, appearing on Channels Television, decried the worsening economic conditions under the Tinubu administration, criticizing officials for living in opulence while Nigerians suffer.
“The people are suffering, but government officials have convoys that are getting longer,” Abdullahi said.
“You can’t just say people should keep enduring pain without telling them what the eventual benefit will be — or when it will come.”
He called on the federal government to clarify how funds saved from the fuel subsidy removal were being spent, saying Nigerians deserved to see real, everyday improvements in healthcare, transportation, and basic services.
Presidency Responds, Downplays Criticism
A source in the Presidency dismissed the criticisms, saying opposition voices do not deserve a response.
“We cannot dignify them with a response,” the official stated anonymously. “But it is clear that the policies of the government have started impacting on the masses.”
However, opposition voices maintain that these “impacts” are far from felt by ordinary citizens struggling with skyrocketing inflation, power tariffs, and fuel costs.
Lamido: ‘I’ll Work for Nigeria, Not Join ADC’
In a parallel development, former Jigawa State governor and PDP chieftain Sule Lamido expressed readiness to work for any political realignment that prioritizes Nigeria’s survival — but ruled out joining the ADC coalition.
Speaking in Kano, Lamido questioned the integrity of recent political realignments, saying they are often built around individuals, not institutional strength, unlike the organic merger that formed the APC in 2014.
“This coalition is a gathering of individuals, not political institutions,” Lamido stated. “I won’t be part of it.”
He further accused the Tinubu-led government of weaponizing state institutions to intimidate and coerce opposition members — citing the case of former PDP vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, whose corruption charges allegedly disappeared after aligning with the APC.
“Today, the Federal Government is using institutions to destroy democracy,” Lamido warned. “We don’t have a united country anymore. Tinubu acts like an emperor who gives life or death to his opponents.”
Lamido emphasized the urgent need for genuine political collaboration that will restore stability, security, and trust among Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Looking Ahead to 2027
With Nigeria’s next general elections just two years away, signs of deepening political realignment and dissatisfaction with the ruling party continue to emerge. The ADC appears to be positioning itself as a viable alternative, while key figures like Amaechi and Lamido are making clear they’re no longer willing to remain silent in the face of what they describe as a national crisis.
As coalitions and parties realign, the 2027 elections are shaping up to be one of the most consequential in Nigeria’s democratic history.
