Rotimi Amaechi
Susan Abayomi
Vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has pledged to resign from office if Nigerians do not begin to experience noticeable changes within one year of an ADC administration taking over government in 2027.
Amaechi made the declaration during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today, where he outlined security, education and the economy as the major areas an ADC government would prioritise if elected.
According to him, the country would need to address these sectors alongside corruption in order to make meaningful progress.
He argued that public resources intended to address critical national challenges were being diverted into private hands, leaving inadequate funds for development.
Amaechi said reducing corruption would therefore be central to efforts to improve security, strengthen the education system and revive the economy.
He also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, questioning whether Nigerians had experienced sufficient benefits from the policy.
The former Rivers State governor further expressed concern about the level of poverty in the country, contrasting the hardship faced by many Nigerians with the large sums reportedly spent at some social events.
On the economy, Amaechi raised concerns about Nigeria’s dependence on imported finished goods. He claimed that more than 46 per cent of finished goods consumed in the country are imported, and questioned the implications of continued dependence on imports.
Amaechi also referred to reports of Nigerians booing President Tinubu during his movement from the Lagos International Airport, saying an ADC administration would seek to change the circumstances that lead to such public reactions.
He said Nigerians should be able to notice a difference within the first year of an ADC government, while clarifying that he was not promising that every national problem would be completely resolved within 12 months.
“If Nigeria does not begin to change one year after we’ve come to office, come to me, I will resign,” Amaechi said.
The pledge effectively places a one-year performance benchmark on Amaechi’s proposed tenure as vice-president, should the ADC win the 2027 presidential election.
His comments come as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with security, economic conditions, governance and the cost of living expected to remain major issues in the political debate.
