Amaechi dumps APC for ADC, blames Tinubu’s Gov’t for Nigeria’s woes

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has officially left the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of destroying governance and democracy in the country.

Amaechi made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the interim executive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he openly criticised the current state of the nation under President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking candidly, Amaechi lamented the harsh economic situation, high inflation, and deepening poverty, stating, “Things have gone so bad that Nigerians can’t even afford to eat. There’s no money, inflation is at its peak, and people are suffering in silence.” He explained that he officially resigned from the APC on Tuesday night, expressing surprise that the party hadn’t expelled him earlier after he had warned them not to invite him for meetings.

When asked why he chose not to support the current administration but instead push for change, Amaechi clarified, “It’s not about changing the government, it’s about changing Nigeria. Nigeria is completely destroyed. People can’t eat. People can’t buy food. There’s no money to buy food. Everything is gone.”

He further accused the federal government of attempting to hijack elections with the help of INEC and emphasised the need for a genuine people-driven movement. “We must start not just a party but a movement that brings in Nigerians to take over government, not us,” he declared.

Amaechi, who served under President Tinubu’s APC-led government for two years, admitted he had no faith in Tinubu’s leadership capacity. “I have never believed that Tinubu is a material to govern the country. Now, people want Buhari to come back,” he said, referring to the worsening economic indicators, especially the naira’s decline, noting, “Dollar was around ₦460 under Buhari, now it’s ₦1,580.”

When asked if the rising exchange rate could be a deliberate policy of the Tinubu administration, Amaechi replied, “Whether it’s a deliberate policy or not, any government that does not take into consideration the people it governs is not running a policy. President Tinubu said he is not here to make Nigerians happy.”

He dismissed suggestions of over-ambition regarding his political moves, insisting, “I have the right to be ambitious, I am not over ambitious.”