ABUJA — Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has announced that he will serve only one term if elected President in the 2027 general election.
Amaechi made this pledge on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. The former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain recently joined the coalition of opposition parties under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has been an active participant in efforts to forge a united political front ahead of the next polls.
“If I get the ticket, I will only do one term,” Amaechi stated emphatically, explaining that his decision is rooted in a commitment to Nigeria’s unwritten rotational presidency principle. “For now, the way Nigeria is, you must keep to that unwritten agreement that says south eight years, north eight years,” he added.
Referencing his past opposition to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a broken power-sharing understanding, Amaechi said maintaining regional balance is critical for national stability.
“I led a fight against the PDP government because there was an agreement that it would spend four years, but it reneged. That would have triggered instability because the north would react,” he said. “Now, I’ll be telling the northerners that the south should be allowed to complete its tenure.”
Speaking further, Amaechi noted that his decision to seek the presidency is secondary to the broader coalition agreement, which prioritizes building a viable platform to challenge the APC. “If not for the coalition agreement, the answer to whether I’ll run would have been an outright yes,” he said. “But we all agreed to put ambition aside for now. Let’s build the platform first.”
He also expressed deep concern about the current state of the country, blaming the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly plotting to hijack the 2027 elections. According to him, Nigerians are struggling under worsening economic conditions, with inflation skyrocketing and basic food items becoming unaffordable.
“Things are so bad that Nigerians can no longer afford to eat what they want,” Amaechi said. “The country is in a state of destruction and needs a complete overhaul.”
Amaechi’s statement adds to the growing momentum within the newly formed ADC coalition, which continues to attract prominent political figures ahead of the 2027 polls.
