Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State and a former cabinet minister, has blamed his defeat in the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary on his decision to follow the advice of senior party figures.
In a recent interview with Punch, Amaechi said that he had been told by the party’s leadership that he would receive the APC presidential ticket. He claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised him the nomination, but the party ultimately chose another candidate.
Following the primary, Amaechi left the APC and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He is now the party’s vice‑presidential candidate for the forthcoming election.
The former minister said that the experience of being promised a ticket and then being sidelined had been a major factor in his decision to switch parties. He added that the ADC’s platform offers him a chance to bring his experience to national politics.
While the APC’s primary ultimately awarded the ticket to the incumbent president, Amaechi’s comments highlight the internal dynamics that can shape Nigeria’s political contests.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>