FORMER Rivers State Governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, forced him out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after taking control of the party’s structure in Rivers State.
Amaechi made the claim on Friday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television monitored by News Point Nigeria, where he revisited the circumstances surrounding his exit from the PDP.
According to him, the events that led to his departure were widely known at the time, as he insisted that he was effectively pushed out of the party.
“The country knew what happened. I was literally chased out of the PDP,” Amaechi said during the interview.
When asked who was responsible for his exit, the former minister directly accused the former president and the then first lady of orchestrating the move.
“The president, with his wife. They took over the political structure in Rivers State and chased me out. The president, Goodluck, and his wife handed over the structure to other people, so I moved,” he stated.
Amaechi further explained that the political fallout was connected to his role as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at the time, suggesting that his position may have influenced the developments that unfolded.
He added that following the episode, he eventually left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and later joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he is now a prominent figure.
Speaking further, Amaechi asserted that he understands Nigeria’s challenges and possesses the capacity to address them.
“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.
The former governor pointed to projects executed during his tenure, including rail lines and port development, as evidence of his competence and leadership capacity.
He also claimed to have tackled insecurity while in government, maintaining that his track record distinguishes him from other contenders.
Highlighting the country’s current economic challenges, Amaechi painted a grim picture of the situation facing Nigerians.
“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel, can’t travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing.
“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak, he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.
Amaechi also alleged attempts to weaken opposition parties, urging that institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary be allowed to operate independently.
“Whether free, fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election. The problem is he does not want a strong candidate on the ballot,” Amaechi stated.
Amaechi is among several prominent figures within the ADC positioning for the 2027 presidential race, as political alignments and contestations continue to take shape ahead of the next general elections.