Amaechi Sparks Row Over Tinubu’s 2027 Re-Election

Former Rivers State Governor and ADC vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has sparked a political controversy after saying that only “thieves” and “mad people” would vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

He made the remarks on Thursday, October 8, at an African Democratic Congress town hall meeting in Benin City, Edo State, where he urged voters to reject Tinubu.punchng+1

“They are going about saying, vote Tinubu, vote Tinubu; only thieves will vote for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.

What Amaechi Said

Amaechi said the 2027 election would reveal the number of “mad men” in Nigeria, adding that anyone who voted for Tinubu fell into that category.

He then directed the remark at Edo voters, saying that if the state voted for Tinubu, it would mean Edo people were “mad.”

“If Edo people vote for Tinubu, that means Edo people are mad. If you are not mad, Tinubu should not win here,” he said.

The comments are political rhetoric and an opinion about voters, not evidence about the character or intelligence of people who support the president.

Presidency Responds

Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, criticised Amaechi’s language and described him as a “careless and irresponsible speaker.”

The Presidency also questioned Amaechi’s political credibility and electoral record, arguing that his remarks made him a burden on the ADC ticket associated with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Those are political criticisms from the Presidency, not independent assessments of Amaechi’s electoral influence.

Edo APC Rejects Remarks

The Edo State APC also rejected the comments.

Party publicity secretary Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie said Edo residents were capable of making informed choices and dismissed Amaechi’s remarks as trivial. He defended Tinubu’s administration by citing federal reforms and infrastructure projects in Edo State.punchng+1

The APC also claimed it had promised Tinubu 2.5 million votes from Edo. That is a party target or political claim, not a confirmed election result or forecast.

Why the Comments Matter

The exchange shows how sharply political rhetoric is escalating ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Strong language may energize party supporters and generate attention, but calling voters “thieves” or “mad” does not explain why they support a candidate or prove that their political choice is illegitimate.

Voters may support a party for many reasons, including economic policies, infrastructure, party loyalty, local relationships or dissatisfaction with the opposition. Others may oppose it because of the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity or their assessment of government performance.

The Larger Campaign Question

The more important issue for Nigerians is not the insult itself, but what each party proposes to do about the country’s challenges.

Key issues include inflation, petrol and transport costs, jobs, electricity, insecurity, public services and public-finance management. The ADC will need to present credible policy alternatives, while the APC will be expected to defend its record and explain its next steps.

Political claims should be judged against documented policies, measurable outcomes and credible evidence—not only rally speeches or social-media exchanges.

Bottom Line

Amaechi’s comments have intensified the 2027 political debate, drawing sharp responses from the Presidency and Edo APC.

The episode highlights the growing confrontation between the ruling party and opposition, but insults aimed at voters do not settle the substantive question of Nigeria’s direction. The real test will be whether parties can move beyond personal attacks and present clear, evidence-based plans for governance.

Source: punchng