Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has pledged to reposition Nigeria within four years if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Amaechi made the declaration on Thursday after submitting his nomination forms at the national headquarters of African Democratic Congress in Abuja, where he also criticised the administration of Bola Tinubu, blaming it for the country’s deepening economic challenges.
The former governor of Rivers State said Nigerians should focus on competence and track record when choosing the country’s next leader, rather than being swayed by ethnic or regional sentiments.
According to him, the 2027 election should serve as a test of candidates’ past performances in public office.
He said, “Nigerians should assess all those contesting for the presidency based on what they have done in the past. Anyone who has performed better should be given the mandate.”
Amaechi maintained that his years in governance, both as governor and later as transport minister under Muhammadu Buhari, have equipped him with the experience needed to lead the country.
He expressed confidence in his ability to defeat the incumbent administration and deliver meaningful reforms, insisting that his achievements in Rivers State and the transport ministry demonstrate his readiness for the nation’s top job.
“I have the experience and the capacity to lead. If elected, I will turn the country around in four years,” he said.
Amaechi served as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and later became a prominent figure in the formation of the All Progressives Congress. He also played a major role as Director-General of Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaign.
During his tenure as Minister of Transportation between 2015 and 2023, he supervised major rail projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan railway lines, though some of the projects drew criticism over the debt profile attached to their financing.
Commenting on the current economic situation, Amaechi accused the Tinubu-led government of worsening the hardship faced by citizens, saying the effects are being felt across all regions, religions and social groups.
He criticised politics based on “turn-by-turn” leadership and regional entitlement, arguing that such sentiments contributed to Nigeria’s present difficulties.
He said the hardship in the country cuts across all divides, stressing that ordinary Nigerians are united by the economic realities of inflation and declining purchasing power.
On the forthcoming presidential primary of the ADC, Amaechi stated that he prefers a direct primary election but would accept a consensus arrangement if he emerges as the chosen candidate.
His declaration comes as political alignments continue to shift ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties intensifying efforts to build alliances capable of challenging the ruling APC.
The ADC has recently witnessed an influx of notable political figures seeking platforms ahead of the next electoral cycle, as debates over economic reforms, insecurity and governance remain central to national discourse.
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