Former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has boldly declared himself the frontrunner for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing the political weight of rivals Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
Speaking during an interview on Friday, Amaechi insisted he is better positioned than other leading contenders, despite their strong showing in the 2023 presidential election.
In a striking dismissal of their past performance, Amaechi argued that the millions of votes secured by Atiku and Obi should not be seen as a decisive advantage in the race for the ADC ticket.
“I remain the best candidate,” he said, expressing confidence that he will emerge victorious at the party’s presidential primary.
Both Atiku and Obi polled over six million votes each in the last election, but Amaechi brushed aside the figures, stressing that the political landscape has changed. According to him, all three contenders now belong to the same coalition, where old vote counts carry little weight.
He further pointed out that the ADC itself does not boast up to three million registered members—an argument he used to underscore why previous electoral numbers may be irrelevant in determining the party’s flagbearer.
Amaechi, who previously sought the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2023 elections, later aligned with Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi of the Labour Party under the emerging coalition.
However, the contest for the ADC ticket is unfolding amid deep internal cracks within the party. A faction led by Nabiu Bala has laid claim to the party’s leadership, triggering a power struggle that has unsettled key stakeholders.
The crisis escalated after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of the party’s leadership structure—an action now being challenged in court by affected parties.
Amaechi’s latest remarks have sparked mixed reactions, with critics accusing him of overstating his political influence, while others warn that the growing rift among top contenders could weaken the coalition before it even fully takes shape.
As the legal battle over the party’s leadership drags on, the ADC faces a defining test—one that could determine whether it emerges as a formidable political force or fractures under the weight of internal ambition.
