Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has claimed that late President Muhammadu Buhari promised him the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket ahead of the party’s 2022 primary.
Amaechi said Buhari advised him not to campaign or negotiate political deals with influential party members. He claimed the former president also promised to announce him as his preferred candidate.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate made the revelation during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room in Lagos on Friday.
He was reflecting on his defeat to President Bola Tinubu during the APC presidential primary in June 2022.
Amaechi says Buhari put promise in writing
The former Minister of Transportation described his decision to follow Buhari’s advice as his first major mistake during the contest.
He said he trusted the former president because Buhari was his superior at the time.
“The first mistake that I made at that primary was that I listened to President Buhari. He said to me, ‘Don’t campaign. Don’t do anything. I will announce you as my candidate.’
“He told me that. He put it in writing. When I write my book, I’ll put it out,” Amaechi said.
He added that the alleged assurance discouraged him from lobbying delegates and building political alliances before the primary.
Amaechi says Tinubu benefited from political deals
Amaechi also blamed his defeat on his refusal to negotiate political positions with governors and other influential party members.
He said he could have secured their support by promising appointments, including the vice-presidency and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“Now, I didn’t do deals. So I would have promised you vice-president, promised you SGF, and then would have gone for this primary, I would have possibly won. I would have had governors on my side.
“Because I didn’t do deals, Tinubu had the chance to do deals,” he said.
Amaechi suggested that his decision reflected his preference for national unity over political bargaining.
He also questioned the perception of Tinubu as an exceptionally strategic politician, asking why he had not become president earlier if his political success depended on extraordinary manoeuvring.
Tinubu defeated Amaechi in 2022 APC primary
The APC held its presidential primary at Eagle Square in Abuja in June 2022.
Tinubu secured the party’s ticket after polling 1,271 votes. Amaechi came second with 316 votes.
Other aspirants included former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba.
Amaechi later left the APC and joined the ADC. He now serves as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
