A former governor of Rivers State, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said he would defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election if he gets the African Democratic Congress ticket.
He also vowed to end corruption in Nigeria within one month, if he becomes president.
Amaechi pledged sweeping reforms if elected Nigeria’s president in 2027, including changing the constitution and eradicating corruption within his first month in office or resigning.
Speaking on Saturday during an X Space session titled Weekend Politics, the former Rivers State governor said he would replace the current indigeneship system with citizenship rights.
“If I do not end corruption in Nigeria within one month, I will tender my resignation,” Amaechi declared.
Amaechi accused some powerful figures of frequently visiting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to steal public funds, lamenting that such resources, if properly utilised, could solve the country’s security and economic crises.
On fuel subsidy, Amaechi vowed not to reverse its removal if elected, but promised to channel the savings directly to ordinary Nigerians rather than the elite.
Amaechi also said he had never participated in election rigging, adding that he had consistently turned down appointments to serve on APC election planning committees.
“I tell you, I’ve not had an election against Tinubu. I know Tinubu very well. I know his strengths. I know his weaknesses. And I know that if allowed to fly the flag of ADC, I will defeat Tinubu for sure,” he said.
“I challenge any politician, living or dead, to come forward and say I was part of rigging.
“In fact, all the appointments given to me by APC to join election planning committees, I have refused to participate.
“There was no one I participated in. Why? Because I know what they discuss. I listen to them. I hear them. If I get the ticket, I will reveal those things.
“They will bring governors. They will go to government agencies and get money, but the rest, I don’t want to say it until I win primaries,” he said.
Amaechi promised never to engage in rigging, saying his focus would be to stop electoral malpractice if elected.
“I will never participate in any rigging whatsoever, and I will not do it. What I promise to do now, going forward, is to stop rigging,” he said.
He added that he would only apologise for wrongdoing if evidence proved he committed a crime.
“I challenge any Nigerian to produce evidence that I participated in any election rigging, and I will apologise for that,” he said.
Amaechi admitted that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), won in Rivers state during the 2023 election.
“I would agree to an extent that Peter Obi won in Rivers State, but unfortunately, the result that came out was different. How it happened, I have no idea,” he said.
