ABUJA, NIGERIA — African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has warned President Bola Tinubu against attempting to rig the 2027 presidential election, arguing that public frustration and economic hardship could create serious consequences for the country.
Amaechi made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the political climate ahead of the 2027 general election and criticised the federal government’s handling of the economy.
Amaechi Warns Against Rigging
The former transportation minister said Tinubu should not attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 election.
Amaechi argued that Nigerians are facing significant economic difficulties and that the government needs to address the concerns of citizens.
“Tinubu will not rig this election because there may not be a Nigeria if he rigs this election,” Amaechi said.
He attributed his warning to what he described as widespread frustration among Nigerians.
“Why? Because the people are tired; they are hungry,” he said, while calling on the president to take steps to ease the economic pressures facing households.
Amaechi’s comments represent his political assessment of the potential consequences of election-related tensions and should not be taken as evidence that President Tinubu plans to rig the election.
‘Nobody Hates Tinubu’
Amaechi also sought to distinguish his criticism of the president from personal hostility.
He said he does not hate Tinubu and claimed that the president knows this.
“Nobody hates Tinubu, I love Tinubu; he knows,” Amaechi said.
However, he questioned the extent to which Nigerians were benefiting from the government’s removal of the petrol subsidy.
“Where are the funds from the removal of subsidy? Where is the money? We want to feel it,” he said.
The statement reflects Amaechi’s criticism of the government’s economic policies as he campaigns alongside ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 election.
Clash With Onanuga
Amaechi also criticised Bayo Onanuga, the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, during the television programme.
He accused Onanuga of making statements he considers untruthful and said he would normally address him as “Dede,” an expression for an elder, because of his age and experience.
Amaechi recalled Onanuga’s earlier career in journalism, saying he was still in secondary school when Onanuga began working with Newswatch magazine.
“I won’t respond to him because in my tradition I’m supposed to call him Dede, meaning an Elder,” Amaechi said.
He nevertheless accused the presidential aide of lying during their political exchanges.
2027 Political Contest Intensifies
Amaechi’s comments come as political parties and opposition groups intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
The ADC has positioned itself as part of the opposition political movement challenging the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), with Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate and Amaechi as his running mate, according to the party’s current political alignment.
The Tinubu administration has continued to defend its economic policies, while opposition politicians have increasingly focused their campaigns on the cost of living, fuel prices, unemployment, insecurity and the impact of subsidy removal.
Amaechi’s remarks therefore form part of the broader political debate over the government’s record, the economic situation and the conduct of the next presidential election.
As the 2027 election approaches, competing parties are expected to continue presenting different accounts of the country’s economic and political conditions while seeking support from voters across Nigeria.
