Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday declared that his performance during his tenure as governor would serve as his strongest campaign message as he seeks the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 election.
Amaechi spoke after appearing before the ADC Presidential Screening Committee at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and economist Muhammed Hayatu-Deen were also screened.
The former Minister of Transportation said he was confident Nigerians would judge him based on his record in office, particularly his years as governor of Rivers State.
“My tenure as governor will campaign for me,” Amaechi told journalists shortly after the exercise.
He also dismissed suggestions that he entered the race to negotiate for a vice-presidential slot, insisting that he purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the presidency.
“I did not buy the form to be anybody’s deputy,” he stated.
Amaechi further blamed the country’s worsening insecurity on systemic failure and widespread youth unemployment, arguing that the political leadership had failed to address the social and economic conditions fuelling crime and violence.
He promised to confront insecurity decisively if elected president.
On the possibility of a consensus arrangement within the party, Amaechi said he would accept the outcome provided all aspirants were carried along in a transparent and inclusive process.
“If that is the party’s decision, and it is a process all of us participated in, then why not?” he said.
The screening committee was chaired by former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke.
Meanwhile, Hayatu-Deen described the ADC as the most credible platform to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress, warning that Nigeria could no longer afford “politics without direction” amid growing hardship, unemployment, and insecurity.
Atiku, on his part, presented what he termed an economic rescue blueprint and security action plan focused on job creation, fiscal discipline, investor confidence, and intelligence-driven security operations.
