Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of aiding the ruling party in plans to rig future elections.
Amaechi made the announcement on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the interim executive committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). His public defection comes amid rising dissatisfaction among key political actors with the APC and the state of the nation.
“I left APC last night. I never attended one meeting. Last time they invited me, I warned them. I was surprised I wasn’t expelled,” Amaechi told reporters.
The former Rivers State governor and one-time APC presidential aspirant blamed the current socio-economic crisis on poor leadership, stating that Nigeria was in a worse state than ever before.
“Nigeria is destroyed. People can’t eat. People can’t buy food. There’s no money to buy food. Everything is gone. Inflation is at its peak,” he said.
He alleged that INEC was complicit in attempts by the federal government and the APC to undermine future electoral processes. “The federal government is busy going around trying to hijack the election. INEC is helping them to hijack the election,” Amaechi said.
Criticizing the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Amaechi questioned his competence to lead the country. “I have never believed that Tinubu is material to govern the country,” he declared, lamenting the worsening economic conditions.
He pointed to the collapse of the naira as a clear indicator of mismanagement. “Dollar was ₦460 or thereabouts during Buhari’s tenure. Now it’s ₦1,580,” he said, adding that policies that neglect citizens’ welfare are inherently flawed. “Whether it’s a deliberate government policy or not, any government that does not take into consideration the people it governs is not pursuing a meaningful policy.”
Amaechi also dismissed suggestions that his criticisms were fueled by personal ambition. “I have the right to be ambitious. I am not overambitious,” he said.
Calling for a national movement beyond political parties, Amaechi said what Nigeria needs now is mass civic engagement to reshape governance. “We must start not just a party, but a movement — a movement that brings in Nigerians to, on their own, take over government, not us.”
His defection and fiery remarks have further deepened the cracks within the APC, especially as other high-profile members such as former Bauchi APC governorship candidate, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd.), also gravitate towards the ADC, signaling a potential political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
