2027: Amaechi Reveals What Would Make Him Resign After One Year Under Atiku Abubakar

• Amaechi gives condition for resigning as vice-president if elected with Atiku Abubakar, saying he would step down if Nigerians see no signs of improvement within their first year in office.

Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, says he would resign if elected and Nigerians saw no signs of improvement within the first year of an Atiku Abubakar administration.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, the former Rivers State governor said Atiku knew he was prepared to leave government if he fell short of expectations.

“I’m sure the president knows my character, the presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) knows my character, that if I’m not performing, I may likely leave government.”

Asked directly whether he would resign as vice-president if he failed to perform, Amaechi replied, “Of course. I’m not joking.”

He had made a similar pledge in an earlier interview, saying, “If Nigeria does not begin to change, one year after we have come to office, come to me, I will resign.”

Amaechi said Nigerians should begin to feel a positive difference within 12 months. He also predicted that Atiku would win public support in his first year in office.

“But the way the situation is and the way I know Atiku, our first year in office, he will be hailed as a hero,” Amaechi said.

“Atiku will be hailed as a hero. Nigerians will regret not voting for him earlier,” he added.

ADC proposes cheaper crude for local refiners

Amaechi said an ADC government would offer crude oil to local refiners below the international market price to help reduce the cost of petrol. Refiners would have to pass the savings on to consumers through lower pump prices to qualify.

“What we’re introducing is what we’ll call a production subsidy.

“If you don’t bring down the price, because the subsidy is aimed at bringing down the price, if you don’t do that, then you don’t get the subsidy.

“You either get the subsidy and bring down the price, or you buy at the international market rate,” he said.

On agriculture, Amaechi said the party would review existing policies, support Nigerian farmers and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food.

“We must review the agricultural policy,” he said.

“We must encourage Nigerian farmers. We will not be importing food.”

He linked investment in farming to job creation and improved security. “Agriculture will create wealth, will create employment. Employment will reduce insecurity,” he added.

ADC says campaign will continue despite court ruling

Amaechi said the ADC would continue campaigning for the 2027 general election while challenging a court ruling that invalidated the party’s caretaker leadership and affected its nominations.

“We are not stopping,” he said.

The dispute followed the resignation of former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu and the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as head of the caretaker committee. Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman for the North-East, challenged the transition, arguing that he was entitled to succeed Nwosu under the party’s constitution.

On Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in Gombe’s favour. The court declared the Mark-led committee illegal and nullified its decisions, including the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate.

The ADC rejected the judgment and said on Friday that it had filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution. It also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to hold off on further action while the legal challenge was pending.