Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending a long-standing but troubled relationship with the ruling party.
Speaking during the unveiling of the interim executive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja on Wednesday, Amaechi confirmed his exit from the APC and heavily criticised the federal government, accusing it of plotting to rig the 2027 general elections with the support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I left APC last night,” Amaechi said during the interview. “I never attended one meeting. The last time they invited me, I warned them. I even wrote to them — don’t invite me again.”
The former Rivers State governor, who played a key role in the formation of the APC in 2013, said he expected to be expelled from the party due to his absence and growing discontent, but chose to resign before that could happen.
“You can’t be in a club where the majority are stealing, and you say nothing,” he said, referring to alleged corruption within the APC.
Amaechi, who also served as Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in 2015 and 2019, painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s current state. He said the country is facing severe hardship, with food prices skyrocketing and inflation pushing many Nigerians into poverty.
“Nigeria is completely destroyed. People can’t eat. People can’t buy food. There’s no money. Everything is gone. Inflation is at its peak,” Amaechi said.
He accused the federal government of focusing on election manipulation instead of solving the country’s economic and security problems.
“The federal government is busy going around trying to hijack the election. INEC is helping them to hijack the election,” he alleged.
When asked why he did not align with the current administration or remain within the political structure he helped build, Amaechi said his concern was not just about changing the party in power but about **fixing the entire country**.
“No, it’s not about changing the government. It’s about changing Nigeria,” he insisted.
He called for a national movement, not just another political party, to bring ordinary Nigerians together and take control of the country’s future.
“It must be a movement that brings Nigerians to, on their own, take over government — not us,” he said, distancing himself from personal political ambition.
Amaechi’s departure is a major development within the APC, especially coming from one of its founding members and former presidential aspirant. His move to the ADC, a smaller opposition party, signals possible political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC, which has recently attracted other high-profile defectors including former AGF Abubakar Malami, is positioning itself as a third force in Nigerian politics, aiming to tap into public frustration with both the APC and PDP.
Amaechi’s statements are likely to stir fresh debates within the political space, especially regarding INEC’s neutrality and the credibility of future elections.
As Nigerians continue to face rising costs of living, insecurity, and weak economic policies, the next election cycle is shaping up to be a battleground for real change or continued frustration depending on who the people believe and support.