Amaechi loses 70% of political followership in Rivers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has reported that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost over 70% of his political followership in the state.

Eric Nwibani, Secretary of the State APC Caretaker Committee, made this statement during a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Nwibani highlighted that Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, has also lost three consecutive election cycles from 2015 to 2023. This is despite his influential roles as a “super minister” and a key member of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, serving as the Director General of Buhari’s Presidential Campaigns twice.

Nwibani was responding to a statement from Amaechi, who claimed that those who left him to support the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, did so because they could not endure hunger. Nwibani urged Amaechi to reflect on why his followers were leaving rather than making accusations.

“Amaechi has lost over 70% of his followership. I’m done working with Amaechi. Let me tell you the type of leader Amaechi is,” Nwibani stated. He recounted an incident during the 2019 presidential campaign rally of President Buhari at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, where 16 people died in a stampede. Amaechi, according to Nwibani, visited three families in Obio/Akpo and promised assistance but did not follow through.

Nwibani continued, “He (Amaechi) carries bitterness over the years. I heard him say he was going to plan to win the next election. How? You were a super minister and you couldn’t win the last election. Is it now that you are out of government that you can win an election?”