Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has made allegations that the late President Muhammadu Buhari promised to endorse him for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022, putting the assurance in writing. However, Mr Buhari reportedly failed to honour this commitment. Mr Amaechi finished second behind Bola Tinubu at the primary. He revealed that he relied on Mr Buhari's assurance rather than negotiating political deals to secure the party's nomination.
Speaking on Mainland 98.3 FM's The Situation Room programme, Mr Amaechi described trusting Mr Buhari as his first mistake in the contest. He claimed that Mr Buhari told him not to campaign, saying, "He said to me, 'Don't campaign. Don't do anything. I will announce you as my candidate.'" Mr Amaechi also stated that Mr Buhari had put the assurance in writing, but did not display the document or disclose when the alleged commitment was made.
Mr Amaechi, who served as Mr Buhari's campaign director-general in the 2015 and 2023 presidential elections, made these claims. He did not provide evidence of the written commitment. Mr Amaechi also accused Mr Tinubu of benefiting from appeals to religious identity during the contest. He alleged that a delegation of Yoruba Muslims met governors in the North-west and urged them to support Mr Tinubu due to their shared faith.
According to Mr Amaechi, the delegation argued that southern Muslims had supported northern Muslim candidates in previous elections and expected similar backing. He claimed that Mr Tinubu played on religion, which he said he would not do. Mr Amaechi referred to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who supported Mr Tinubu's presidential ambition. Mr Amaechi claimed that Mr El-Rufai linked his support for Mr Tinubu to religious considerations.
The 2022 APC primary saw Mr Tinubu defeat 13 other aspirants, polling 1,271 votes, while Mr Amaechi came second with 316 votes. Then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo finished third with 235 votes. The primary followed weeks of uncertainty over whether Mr Buhari would openly endorse a successor. Mr Amaechi resigned from the cabinet to contest the party's presidential nomination.
Although Mr Amaechi said Mr Buhari advised him not to campaign, he undertook consultations with delegates and political stakeholders before the primary. He did not explain how these consultations differed from the campaigning Mr Buhari had discouraged. Mr Tinubu subsequently won the February 2023 presidential election and succeeded Mr Buhari in May of that year.
Mr Amaechi stated that he would not adopt a similar strategy by asking Catholic leaders to direct members of the church to support his presidential ambition. He argued that political campaigns built around religious identity could create divisions among Nigerians. Mr Amaechi plans to write a book where he will reveal more details about the alleged written commitment from Mr Buhari.
Key points
- Amaechi alleges Buhari promised him the APC presidential ticket in writing but failed to honour it.
- Amaechi accuses Tinubu of benefiting from appeals to religious identity during the contest.
- Tinubu won the 2022 APC primary with 1,271 votes, while Amaechi came second with 316 votes.
