Amaechi says Buhari had promised him APC support
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Trust
Rotimi Amaechi says former president Muhammadu Buhari had promised in writing to name him as the APC's preferred presidential candidate. The former Rivers State governor says he decided not to campaign or negotiate alliances before the primary, according to an interview with Mainland 98.3FM in Lagos.
Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari had guaranteed in writing that he would be his preferred candidate in the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s 2022 presidential primary. Amaechi said during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM in Lagos that this promise led him not to campaign among delegates, according to Daily Trust.
Amaechi believes this decision and his refusal to negotiate positions with governors and other APC officials reduced his chances against Bola Tinubu, who ultimately secured the party's presidential nomination. He says he could have offered, among other positions, the vice-presidency and the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation to secure support.
The former Nigerian Transport Minister also accused Tinubu of using religious arguments to win the support of delegates from northern Nigeria. He notably claims that a delegation of Yoruba Muslims from the South-West had approached governors in the North-West in support of Tinubu, according to Daily Trust.
