Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that the late President Muhammadu Buhari promised to make him the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate ahead of the party’s 2022 primary.
Amaechi said he lost the opportunity to secure the APC ticket because he followed Buhari’s advice not to campaign or engage in political negotiations with influential party leaders before the primary election.
The former Minister of Transportation made the revelation during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room programme in Lagos on Friday, November 6, 2026.
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According to him, Buhari had assured him that he would be announced as his preferred presidential candidate, a promise Amaechi said was also communicated to him in writing.
He explained that he trusted the former president’s assurance because Buhari was his superior at the time and believed his endorsement would strengthen his chances of emerging as the party’s flag bearer.
Amaechi said he would make the alleged written promise public when he eventually publishes his memoir.
Amaechi Admits Failure to Negotiate Political Alliances
Reflecting on the events leading to the APC presidential primary, Amaechi identified his decision not to negotiate with governors and other influential party members as another major factor behind his defeat.
He said he could have secured the support of several governors by promising them important political positions, including the vice-presidency and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
However, he chose not to engage in such arrangements, believing that Buhari’s promised endorsement would be sufficient.
Amaechi suggested that his decision gave President Bola Tinubu an advantage because the former Lagos State governor was actively building political alliances ahead of the contest.
He argued that Tinubu’s ability to negotiate with influential party stakeholders helped him secure the support needed to defeat other presidential aspirants.
According to Amaechi, he might have won the primary if he had adopted a similar approach.
Amaechi Accuses Tinubu of Using Religious Sentiments
The ADC chieftain also revisited the role of religion in the 2022 APC presidential primary, alleging that Tinubu benefited from religious mobilisation, particularly among some northern political leaders.
Amaechi claimed that a delegation of Yoruba Muslims from the South-West approached governors in the North-West and appealed for support for Tinubu on religious grounds.
He also referenced former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he said had initially supported his presidential ambition before eventually backing Tinubu.
Despite his allegations, Amaechi maintained that he would not use religious identity to mobilise voters, even if doing so could improve his chances of winning an election.
He described his position as a commitment to national unity, arguing that politicians should avoid strategies capable of deepening religious divisions in the country.
Amaechi said appealing to members of a particular religious group to vote for a candidate simply because they share the same faith could create unnecessary tension.
He maintained that Nigeria needed political leaders who could appeal to citizens across religious and ethnic boundaries.
Tinubu Defeated Amaechi in 2022 APC Primary
The APC presidential primary took place at Eagle Square in Abuja in June 2022, with Tinubu emerging as the party’s candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu secured 1,271 votes, while Amaechi finished second with 316 votes.
Other prominent aspirants also contested the ticket, but Tinubu’s victory positioned him to face candidates from other political parties in the 2023 general election, which he eventually won.
Amaechi had previously served as Rivers State governor and Minister of Transportation under Buhari. He also played a major role in Buhari’s successful 2015 presidential campaign.
He has since moved into the opposition and was announced as the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election.
His latest comments have reopened discussions about the political calculations, alliances and internal negotiations that shaped the APC’s 2022 presidential primary.
According to PUNCH, Amaechi made the disclosures during his Friday interview on Mainland 98.3FM.
