Rotimi Amaechi: “Tinubu Will Not Rig This Election” Because Nigerians Are Tired and Hungry

African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has said he does not believe President Bola Tinubu will attempt to rig the 2027 presidential election, warning that electoral manipulation could have severe consequences for Nigeria.

Rotimi Amaechi made the comments during an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on October 2, 2026, while discussing the economy, the 2027 presidential contest and his assessment of the political situation ahead of the election. He is running alongside ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Rotimi Amaechi Says Rigging Could Put Nigeria at Risk

Amaechi said he believed Tinubu would not rig the election because of the level of frustration and economic hardship among Nigerians.

“Tinubu will not rig this election because there might not be a Nigeria if he rigs this election,” Amaechi said, adding that “people are tired, they are hungry.” His remarks represent his own assessment of the possible consequences of electoral malpractice rather than evidence that Tinubu has either planned or intends to rig the 2027 election.

Amaechi also said his opposition to Tinubu should not be interpreted as personal hatred toward the President. “Nobody hates Tinubu. I love Tinubu, he knows,” he said during the interview.

Amaechi Challenges Tinubu Over Fuel Prices

The comments came during a wider discussion about the economic situation and the cost of living. Amaechi challenged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate that Nigerians are experiencing the economic improvement highlighted by the President.

He separately offered a striking political condition, saying he would withdraw as Atiku’s running mate and campaign for Tinubu if petrol prices fell to ₦600 per litre. Amaechi said he would personally visit a filling station to verify the price if the benchmark was reached.

The statement puts petrol prices at the centre of Amaechi’s criticism of the government’s economic policies. The former Rivers State governor has argued that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the resulting increase in fuel prices have contributed to pressure on Nigerian households.

ADC Ticket Puts Amaechi Against Tinubu

Rotimi Amaechi is currently the ADC vice-presidential candidate alongside Atiku Abubakar, while Tinubu is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate. INEC has published the candidates and their running mates for the 2027 presidential election.

Rotimi Amaechi comments also carry particular significance because of his previous statements about electoral integrity. In 2025, while seeking the ADC presidential ticket, he said he would not participate in election rigging and pledged to oppose electoral manipulation.

The former minister’s latest position is therefore centred on the expectation that the 2027 contest should be decided through the ballot rather than manipulation. His warning about the possible consequences of rigging adds to the broader debate among opposition politicians over the credibility and independence of Nigeria’s electoral process.

President Tinubu has previously rejected suggestions that INEC would be used to manipulate the election, saying in July that the electoral commission is neutral and that he was prepared to contest his political opponents through the electoral process.

As the 2027 election approaches, electoral integrity, economic hardship and the cost of living are expected to remain major issues in the competing campaigns. Amaechi’s latest comments place all three issues at the centre of his argument against the ruling party.

OGM News NG will continue to track the 2027 presidential campaign, including the competing positions of the ADC, APC and other political parties as Nigerians prepare for the next general election.