Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi says he lost the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in 2022 partly because he relied on assurances from former President Muhammadu Buhari instead of building the political alliances needed to win.
Amaechi, now the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate alongside Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 election, said Buhari had promised in writing to declare him his preferred candidate and advised him against campaigning ahead of the contest.
Speaking on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room in Lagos on Friday, Amaechi described his decision to follow the advice as his first major mistake in the race, which was won by President Bola Tinubu.
“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,’” Amaechi said.
“He told me that. He put it in writing. When I write my book, I’ll put it out.”
Amaechi said he also avoided negotiating political deals with governors and other influential party figures, believing Buhari’s backing would strengthen his chances. In retrospect, he argued, offering political positions could have helped him secure more support.
He said Tinubu benefited from the alliances he failed to build.
“Because I didn’t do deals, Tinubu had the chance to do deals,” he said.
Amaechi also accused Tinubu’s camp of using religious identity to mobilise support, particularly among northern delegates. He alleged that a delegation of Southern Yoruba Muslims approached governors in the North-West to seek their support for Tinubu on religious grounds.
He cited former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he said had initially supported his ambition but later backed Tinubu.
“El-Rufai was my supporter. El-Rufai, in a viral video, said this is done for the faith,” Amaechi said.
He rejected the use of religion as an electoral tool, arguing that it could deepen divisions in Nigeria.
“I wouldn’t want to run that kind of federation,” he said, adding that he would not ask religious leaders to mobilise their congregations to vote for him.
Amaechi also questioned the portrayal of Tinubu as an exceptionally skilful political strategist, challenging the idea that his eventual victory reflected an unmatched ability to manoeuvre politically.
At the APC presidential primary in Abuja in June 2022, Tinubu secured 1,271 votes, while Amaechi received 316. The result made Tinubu the party’s candidate for the 2023 presidential election, which he won.
Amaechi previously directed Buhari’s successful 2015 presidential campaign and served as transportation minister during his administration.
