The ADC vice-presidential candidate says the ruling party is more focused on weakening its opponents than presenting concrete plans to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election.

Rotimi Amaechi, the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing on opposition figures rather than presenting its policies and plans to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and minister of transportation, said the ruling party was more interested in weakening the opposition than engaging Nigerians on critical national issues.

He made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

According to him, the APC’s campaign rallies have largely focused on attacking opposition figures, particularly him, rather than addressing issues affecting the country.

“The party in power is trying to look for how to weaken the opposition; they are scared. Don’t you see their campaign? Tell me one state they have campaigned in that is not about Amaechi; it’s all Amaechi, Amaechi, Amaechi, Ebonyi, Rivers, Amaechi,” he said.

Policy Debate

Amaechi contrasted the ruling party’s approach with the opposition’s campaign, saying his party had focused on issues such as the economy, social housing and security.

“When we were campaigning, we were addressing issues. We addressed the issues of economy, social housing, security,” the ex-minister said.

He further argued that the APC was using his name as a recurring subject at its campaign events instead of explaining what it intended to do if re-elected.

“You know what I do every morning? I call my children, [and] I say, ‘You see, your father has achieved so much that he is now the issue in the political discourse of Nigeria.’ NDC is not calling my name because we are in opposition. Anywhere APC is going tomorrow, it’s Amaechi they will mention; they won’t mention what they will do,” he said.

The former governor also dismissed what he described as the ruling party’s assurances that things would improve in the future, arguing that Nigerians deserved concrete policy proposals rather than promises.

“They are not interested; what they are interested in is, ‘don’t worry, things will be better in the future, just put us in power.’ It’s a referendum,” he added.

Amaechi contested the ADC presidential primary ahead of the 2027 election but lost to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. He is currently Atiku’s running mate on the party’s ticket.

Campaigns

Amaechi’s comments come amid intensified campaigns by the APC ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

At its rallies across the country, the ruling party has repeatedly criticised opposition figures, including Atiku and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

During a campaign rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima questioned the leadership credentials and capacity of the opposition candidates to govern the country.

Shettima, in particular, described Obi as a ‘master of bogus statistics’ while also criticising Atiku’s repeated attempts to become president.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will be held on February 6.