By Adebari Oguntoye
Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, says he is willing to be a one-term president in 2027 if he secures the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Amaechi spoke on Thursday during an interview on 鈥楶olitics Today鈥, a Channels Television programme.
The former governor of Rivers said he is prepared to step down after four years in office to allow for rotation and stability.
鈥淔or now, the way Nigeria is, you must keep to that unwritten agreement that says south eight years, north eight years.
鈥淚 led a fight against the PDP government because there was an agreement that the government at that time would spend four years, but after four years, the government reneged, and I said, 鈥榥o, that will be unfair.鈥
鈥淭hat will lead to instability at its peak, as the north will react. So, the best thing to do is to support a northern candidate to continue the balance of power.
鈥淛ust like I will be telling the northerners that, no, the south should be allowed to complete their tenure鈥攊f the south isn鈥檛 allowed to complete their tenure, then I have made a mistake in supporting鈥.鈥
When asked if he would only do one term if given the ADC ticket, the former minister said, 鈥淥f course. If not for the coalition agreement, the answer to whether I鈥檒l run (as president) would have been an outright yes.
鈥淏ut what did we agree on? Everyone should set aside their ambition. Let鈥檚 first get the platform. Let鈥檚 build it before talking about the presidency.鈥
Amaechi contested the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2022, coming second behind President Bola Tinubu, who won the party鈥檚 ticket at the time.
On Sunday, Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, expressed his readiness to serve a single term in office if elected president in 2027.
He added that the zoning principle鈥攚hich alternates the presidency between north and south鈥攊s a commitment he has long championed.
On Wednesday, members of the coalition unveiled the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their platform for the 2027 general election.
Amaechi was also present at the unveiling of the ADC coalition in Abuja.
Amaechi said although former President Muhammadu Buhari did not fulfill all his promises, his administration was more effective than the government of Tinubu in every respect.
鈥淏uhari will tell you he didn鈥檛 achieve everything, but his government was better than this one by all standards. Security under Buhari was a priority. Transportation saw progress. INEC had more independence,鈥 he said.
He alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now compromised, with officials reportedly acting on orders from the government to deny registration to opposition parties.
鈥淭oday, they can鈥檛 even register a party because government officials are telling INEC not to. So how is INEC an umpire when it takes instructions from the government?鈥
Amaechi also recalled resisting attempts by then-President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a chairman on the Nigeria Governors鈥 Forum (NGF), a move he said undermined the independence of governors.
鈥淲hen I heard the president wanted to appoint a chairman for the Governors鈥 Forum, I almost collapsed. We demanded an election, and I won鈥19 votes to Jang鈥檚 16. Back then, governors had a voice. Now? They don鈥檛,鈥 he said.
He added that Buhari took a more conservative approach to borrowing and often blocked loan requests not tied to critical infrastructure.
鈥淏uhari once rejected a minister鈥檚 loan proposal at FEC and insisted only key ministries like transport should access credit,鈥 Amaechi said.