Buhari Promised Me APC Ticket in Writing – Amaechi

African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi says the late President Muhammadu Buhari promised in writing to declare him his preferred candidate prior to the start of the 2022 All Progressives Congress presidential primary.

Amaechi said the assurance led him to refrain from campaigning, lobbying delegates and negotiating political alliances before the contest, a decision he now considers a major mistake that contributed to his defeat by President Bola Tinubu.

He made the disclosure during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room programme in Lagos on Friday, while reflecting on the 2022 primary.

“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 said.

The former transportation minister said he had trusted Buhari’s assurance because the late president was his boss and believed his endorsement would give him an advantage over other aspirants.

Amaechi also said his refusal to negotiate political positions with governors and other influential party members weakened his chances, giving Tinubu room to build alliances ahead of the primary.

He said he could have promised governors appointments, including the vice-presidency and the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in exchange for their support.

“Because I didn’t do deals, Tinubu had the chance to do deals,” he said.

Amaechi also accused Tinubu of exploiting religious sentiments to secure support from delegates, particularly in northern Nigeria.

He alleged that a delegation of Yoruba Muslims from the South had approached governors in the North-West and appealed to them to support Tinubu on religious grounds.

He also cited former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he said had initially supported his presidential ambition before backing Tinubu.

“El-Rufai was my supporter. El-Rufai, in a viral video, said this is done for the faith,” Amaechi said.

He said he would not use religious identity to mobilise voters, arguing that such appeals could deepen divisions in the country.

Amaechi said he would not ask members of a particular religious group to vote for him, even if doing so could improve his electoral chances.

“That makes me a nationalist,” he said.

At the June 2022 APC presidential primary in Abuja, Tinubu secured the party’s ticket with 1,271 votes, while Amaechi came second with 316.

Tinubu went on to win the 2023 presidential election.

Amaechi, who served as transportation minister under Buhari, had also directed the late president’s successful 2015 presidential campaign. He is now Atiku Abubakar’s running mate on the ADC ticket for the 2027 presidential election.