Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, says he would carry out electoral reforms within six months if elected president in 2027.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV on Monday, Amaechi said Nigeria’s electoral challenges persist because political elites are not held accountable by citizens.
“If I become president in 2027, six months after, we will have electoral reform,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s political elite remain “reckless and irresponsible” because citizens do not truly determine who gets or loses power.
“The people don’t hire them, the people don’t fire them,” he said.
The former minister said his presidential ambition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is driven by worsening living conditions and insecurity across the country.
“Can you pay for food? Do you have food to eat? Are your parents safe?” he asked.
“If the answer to these questions is no, then that’s why I want to be president.”
Amaechi also argued that he is younger and more energetic than many of the politicians expected to contest the presidency in 2027.
“I’m 60, apart from Sowore, the rest are in their 70s and 80s,” he noted.
The former governor further defended his leadership credentials, citing his time as speaker of the Rivers state house of assembly, governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
“We had an election and I defeated the candidate of the president,” he said while speaking about his emergence as NGF chairman during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
Amaechi also criticised the current governors in the country, saying many of them appear afraid of the presidency.
“I don’t see their presence,” he said.
“Of course they are all scared.”
He added that governors should be given the freedom and tools needed to govern effectively, while still remaining accountable to the law.
