Amaechi: Nobody Asked Me to Be Vice-president — They Know My Worth

Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, has refuted claims that he was offered the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential ticket.

On Monday, Amaechi contested in the ADC 2027 presidential primary alongside Atiku Abubakar and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the defunct FSB International Bank.

However, he came second with 504,117 votes behind Abubakar, who polled 1,846,370 votes and was declared winner, while Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes.

In a statement on Tuesday, the former Rivers governor rejected the outcome of the exercise over alleged irregularities and voter disenfranchisement.

He said the results were being “concocted” and do not reflect the values the ADC had pledged to uphold.

Speaking in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, media personality and broadcaster, Amaechi said he made consultations before releasing the statement.

He added that he also met with David Mark, national chairman of the ADC, but said nothing about the party’s vice-presidential ticket was discussed.

“Before the statement was made, there were consultations. We agreed that we should issue the statement. In fact, the final conclusion was between me and Hayatu-Deen,” he said.

“I went to see the national chairman of ADC. After our discussion, he walked me to the exit door, I shook his hands and I left. We discussed something different from what they wrote about.

“But people said I stormed out after he told me to run for VP. But I am not joking; nobody has ever told me to be vice-president because they know my worth and what will be my reaction.”

His remarks come amid the controversy trailing the ADC presidential primary following a similar rejection of the results by Hayatu-Deen over alleged rigging.

Although Abubakar met with Amaechi on Thursday as part of efforts to unify the aspirants ahead of the presidential election, the former vice president said their meeting focused on the bid to “rescue Nigeria”.