Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, and Rotimi Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, turned in their nomination forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
Rotimi Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, turned in his presidential nomination forms at the African Democratic Congress secretariat in Abuja. Rotimi Amaechi | X
In a post on his X handle on Thursday, Atiku stated that his presidential campaign is part of a larger movement to rebuild Nigeria and restore national prosperity.
Amaechi, on the other hand, claimed that competence, experience, and performance—rather than ethnicity or political sentiment—should determine the 2027 contest and promised to change the nation within four years if elected.
In the midst of escalating political realignments nationwide, the ADC continues to draw prominent politicians in advance of the upcoming general elections.
Atiku wrote, “The march to restore prosperity and better days to our beloved nation took a firm and decisive step forward today at the national secretariat of our great party, the African Democratic Congress,” following the submission of his application at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja.
According to the former vice president, the movement was centered on hope and national renewal rather than politics.
He declared, “This is more than a political journey; it is a national movement rooted in hope, renewal, and the collective resolve to save Nigeria from despair.”
Additionally, he urged Nigerians to support the movement regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or geography. He emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among citizens, stating that only through collective effort can the nation overcome its challenges. The former vice president expressed his belief that a brighter future is achievable if everyone works together towards a common goal.
“I urge all Nigerians to support this admirable cause, irrespective of their location, religion, or upbringing. Together, we will rebuild our country’s promise and usher in prosperous times once more,” he continued.
If Amaechi wins the general election in 2027, he promises to change Nigeria in four years.
Shortly after submitting his nomination forms, Amaechi made the pledge, criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration and holding it responsible for the nation’s deteriorating economic situation.
According to the former governor of Rivers State, performance, experience, and competence should be the deciding factors in the 2027 election rather than regional or ethnic sentiments. Amaechi emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among all Nigerians to foster progress. He believes that only by focusing on shared goals and values can the country overcome its current challenges and build a brighter future for everyone.
Nigerians ought to evaluate each of us who are seeking public office according to our backgrounds.
Almost all of the candidates for president have some sort of experience serving Nigeria. Let’s hold a referendum. “Vote for the person who performed better than you,” he advised.
Citing his time serving as governor and then as minister of transportation under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Amaechi claimed that his years in public office had equipped him for the job of leading the nation.
Who can deliver the votes? That is the next question. Who can defeat the current incumbent? Who’s got the experience? I think I have the most experience.
“I am the most experienced, I am young, and I think I am capable.
“Return to Rivers State and observe my actions. Return to the Ministry of Transportation to review my work, evaluate it, and determine whether I can make a positive impact on the nation. And I’ll turn the nation around in four years,” he said.
Amaechi was the director-general of President Buhari’s 2015 campaign after serving as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and playing a significant role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress.
He oversaw significant railway projects, such as the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines, while serving as minister of transportation from 2015 to 2023. However, some of the infrastructure projects’ growing debt raised concerns.
Speaking about the country’s situation, the former minister criticized what he called the Tinubu administration’s increasing hardship, claiming that Nigerians were suffering the most from economic policies that had made living conditions worse.
“Voters in Nigeria should choose candidates based on their qualifications rather than on those who claim to be from the area or that it is their turn.”
“We got here because of the ‘Emilokan’ mentality. We are here because it is our turn. “Nigerians are suffering now,” he said.
