A presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed reports of a crisis within the party, insisting that he would remain in the ADC and fight through any challenge that may arise.
Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja after appearing before the party’s presidential screening committee ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Rivers governor said political parties naturally face disagreements and internal struggles, but abandoning a party at the first sign of trouble is not the solution.
According to him, politicians must be prepared to confront and resolve challenges within their parties rather than constantly moving from one platform to another.
“Running away from the party is not the solution because wherever you want to go, you will face the same elements,” Amaechi told journalists after the screening exercise.
“What is the solution then? The solution is to fight them. So, when you say crisis, I don’t believe there is a crisis in the ADC,” he added.
Amaechi’s comments came amid growing speculation over possible leadership disagreements and internal divisions within the ADC ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.
In recent weeks, there have been claims that tensions were building among different interest groups within the party over control of its structure and preparations for the next general election.
The rumours intensified shortly before the commencement of the party’s sale of nomination forms for presidential aspirants.
The ADC has recently gained attention following efforts by opposition politicians and political groups seeking a strong platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the next presidential election.
Amaechi himself remains one of the most influential politicians in Nigeria’s opposition space despite his long association with the APC.
He served as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 before becoming Minister of Transportation under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amaechi was also one of the founding members of the APC and played a key role in the coalition that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 presidential election.
However, after years within the ruling party, he has now aligned with the ADC as he seeks another opportunity to contest for the presidency.
The former minister had earlier contested the APC presidential primary in 2022 but lost to current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
His latest comments are being seen as an attempt to reassure party members and supporters that the ADC remains stable despite reports of internal disagreements.
The issue of internal party crises has remained a major challenge in Nigerian politics, especially during election periods.
Many political parties in the country have often struggled with disputes over leadership positions, party structures, zoning arrangements and the conduct of primary elections.
These disagreements have in many cases resulted in defections, court cases and the formation of rival factions within parties.
Amid recent concerns within the ADC, reports also emerged that former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had left the party for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.
The reported defections further fuelled speculation that the ADC could be heading into a leadership crisis ahead of the elections.
However, the party has continued to deny the allegations.
The spokesperson of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, recently dismissed reports of a crisis within the party, insisting that the ADC remains united and focused on building a strong opposition platform.
There have also been growing discussions around the possibility of a broad opposition coalition involving politicians from different parties and regions.
Such talks have become more important following public dissatisfaction over economic hardship, insecurity and governance challenges facing the country.
Amaechi’s presence in the ADC has already attracted attention because of his political experience and influence, especially in the South-South region.
Supporters of the former minister believe he could strengthen the party’s national profile and improve its chances in the next election cycle.
However, critics argue that opposition parties must first resolve internal disagreements and build trust among members if they hope to present a united front against the ruling APC.
Despite the concerns, Amaechi insisted that there was no serious crisis in the ADC and maintained that political disagreements should not lead to panic.
According to him, internal debates and differences are part of democratic politics and should be addressed through dialogue and political engagement rather than defections.
With the ADC presidential screening process now underway, attention is expected to shift to the party’s primaries and how it plans to position itself ahead of the 2027 presidential race.