By Deborah Nnamdi
Barely a month after officially resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is preparing to address his supporters in Rivers State regarding his next political steps.
Amaechi, who recently attended the funeral of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, had hinted at an imminent address to his supporters on the current political climate in the country.
According to a reliable source, Amaechi is expected to meet with his supporters on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, where he may formally announce his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The source added that millions of his loyalists—drawn from both the APC and the PDP—could follow him into the new party.
An APC chieftain, speaking anonymously, said the political atmosphere in Rivers State is tense, with many disillusioned by the infighting within the APC and PDP. “This is why the rise of the ADC poses a serious threat to both President Bola Tinubu’s and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s political structures,” he said.
The source further alleged that the recent political crisis in the state, particularly the reported denial of constitutional duties to Governor Siminalayi Fubara following the controversial declaration of emergency rule on March 18, has deepened public frustration.
“People in Rivers State have been denied the dividends of democracy for over four months. They see the ADC as a platform to express their dissatisfaction and demand change,” he noted.
Amaechi is reportedly being considered a leading contender for the ADC’s presidential ticket in 2027, given his nationwide popularity, cross-ethnic appeal, and extensive political experience.
In his resignation letter dated July 1, 2025, addressed to the APC Ward 8 Chairman in Ubima, Ikwerre LGA, Amaechi wrote:
“This decision stems from my avowed commitment to join forces with other patriotic Nigerians to rescue our nation from the fangs of failure, pain, and anguish, which the APC now clearly represents.”
He added that after broad consultations,
“I am convinced that this is the appropriate moment to call it quits, as the party has strayed from the lofty ideals on which it was founded and can no longer inspire hope for a better Nigeria.”
