Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said late President Muhammadu Buhari promised him the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket ahead of the 2022 primary. He spoke during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room programme in Lagos on Friday.
Amaechi, now the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, explained that he relied on the assurance and therefore avoided campaigning or negotiating with delegates. As a result, he said, he failed to build the alliances needed to win the contest.
Amaechi stated that Buhari personally assured him of support and put the promise in writing. He described his decision to follow the advice as a major error.
He said, “The first mistake that I made at that primary was that I listened to President Buhari. He said to me, ‘Don’t campaign. Don’t do anything. I will announce you as my candidate.’ He told me that. He put it in writing. When I write my book, I’ll put it out.”
Amaechi added that he trusted the former president because Buhari was his boss at the time. He believed the endorsement would give him an edge over other aspirants.
President Bola Tinubu defeated Amaechi at the APC presidential primary held in June 2022. Amaechi noted that his refusal to lobby governors and other influential party members allowed Tinubu to strengthen his own network ahead of the vote.
He reflected on the events while discussing the circumstances of his loss in the interview.
