Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has called for an end to ethnic and regional politics in Nigeria, insisting that competence and track record should determine leadership choices ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amaechi spoke on Wednesday after appearing before the ADC presidential screening committee in Abuja, where he also declared support for any consensus arrangement adopted by the party, provided the process remains transparent and inclusive.
The former Rivers State governor expressed confidence after the screening exercise, saying his political experience and public service record speak for themselves.
“I’ve just been screened and I assume it was successful because I have been a governor before, so I don’t know what I would have done to make them disqualify me,” he said.
Amaechi maintained that Nigeria’s leadership challenge should not be reduced to ethnic or regional considerations, stressing that aspirants should instead be assessed based on their past performance in public office.
“I always say let this be a referendum. All of us have held one position or the other. Let Nigerians assess us by what we have done,” he stated.
In a direct rejection of identity politics, the former minister declared that he identifies first as a Nigerian rather than along ethnic or regional lines.
“I’m not from south or east or west. I’m a Nigerian. If I become president, that would not be about indigeneity; it would be about citizenship,” he said.
Amaechi also questioned the continued relevance of the federal character principle, arguing that it exists largely because of inequality and systemic imbalance within the country.
According to him, Nigeria has institutionalised social inequality, particularly in the education sector, where the wealthy have access to quality private education while ordinary citizens are left with poorly funded public schools.
He further linked unemployment and economic hardship to the rising wave of insecurity, kidnapping and violent crimes across the country.
“The reason people carry guns and kidnap others is because the system is bad,” he said.
On the possibility of the ADC adopting a consensus candidate, Amaechi pledged loyalty to the party’s decision as long as all aspirants are fairly carried along in the process.
“If that is the party’s decision and all of us participate in the process, I will abide by it,” he stated.
Earlier, Chairman of the ADC Presidential Screening Committee and former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, said the panel would submit its report to the party leadership before any official pronouncement is made.
Imoke described the screening exercise as thorough and in line with constitutional and party requirements, adding that all aspirants presented their documents for verification.
