The Presidency and the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have criticised African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi over his claim that only “mad people” would vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, describing the former Rivers State governor as a political liability to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ticket.
The criticism followed Amaechi’s remarks at an ADC town hall meeting in Benin, Edo State, on Thursday, where he urged residents not to support Tinubu in next year’s election.
Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, argued that Nigerians dissatisfied with the administration’s policies should reject the President at the polls, using strong language to challenge his supporters.
He said those campaigning for Tinubu were either thieves or mentally unstable, adding that Edo voters would demonstrate their political position by voting against the President.
The comments triggered a response from the Presidency and the Edo APC, which questioned Amaechi’s political judgment, electoral influence and capacity to attract votes for the opposition coalition.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, described Amaechi as an irresponsible speaker and an unserious politician, arguing that his comments had undermined his credibility.
Ajayi also criticised the former governor over previous comments concerning his late mother, alleging that Amaechi had used the circumstances surrounding her death for political purposes.
The presidential aide questioned Amaechi’s account of the financial difficulties he said affected his ability to obtain medication for his mother, citing alleged spending on his family’s welfare and her burial.
Ajayi further challenged Amaechi’s electoral credentials, particularly his role as Director-General of the presidential campaigns of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019.
According to him, the former governor failed to secure a significant share of the votes in Rivers State during the two elections, despite his position in Buhari’s campaign organisation.
He argued that Amaechi’s record raised questions about his ability to deliver votes for the ADC in Rivers State and the wider South-South geopolitical zone.
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Ajayi said: “He’s actually a burden on Atiku’s ticket,” adding that the former governor brought little electoral value to the opposition presidential candidate.
The presidential aide also questioned why the ADC would select Amaechi as its vice-presidential candidate, arguing that he might struggle to mobilise support even within his home state.
The Edo State APC Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, also dismissed Amaechi’s remarks, insisting that voters in the state were capable of making informed political decisions.
He said the former governor was entitled to his opinion but argued that not every political statement deserved a response.
Uwadiae-Igbinigie maintained that Edo voters were politically sophisticated and would determine their preferred candidates based on their assessment of the parties and their performance.
He cited the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo as evidence of what he described as the electorate’s political awareness.
The APC spokesman also defended Tinubu’s administration, pointing to its economic reforms and infrastructure development in Edo State as reasons voters should continue supporting the ruling party.
He contrasted the APC with the ADC, using strong language to dismiss the opposition party’s leadership and political influence.
Uwadiae-Igbinigie further claimed that Edo residents would support Tinubu in 2027, recalling a promise of 2.5 million votes for the President.
He argued that continued federal support and development projects in Edo State would encourage residents to vote for the ruling party.
The exchange highlights the growing political confrontation between the ruling APC and opposition parties as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.
Amaechi’s remarks at the Benin town hall meeting focused on mobilising voters against Tinubu, while the responses from the Presidency and Edo APC sought to challenge his credibility and the opposition coalition’s electoral prospects.
The dispute also reflects the emerging contest over economic reforms, governance performance and the ability of political parties to translate public sentiment into votes.
While the APC has defended the President’s policies and projected confidence in its electoral strength in Edo State, the ADC and its candidates face the challenge of persuading voters that an alternative administration would better address their concerns.
The competing claims are likely to feature prominently in the campaigns as the parties seek to consolidate their support bases and attract undecided voters ahead of the 2027 general election.
