Amaechi Urges Grassroots Mobilization Ahead of 2027 Elections

The vice-presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has conveyed a serious warning to the opposition party leaders regarding the potential consequences of a victory by President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. Speaking at the ADC National Women League Conference held in Abuja, Amaechi underscored the critical importance of grassroots mobilization for the party’s success.

Mobilizing Women for Change

Amaechi, who previously served as the governor of Rivers State and as Minister of Transportation, called on women across Nigeria to take active roles in their respective states and wards to mobilize voters in support of the ADC. He argued that achieving electoral success against the All Progressives Congress (APC) necessitates robust grassroots engagement.

Reflecting on the APC’s 2015 electoral victory over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he highlighted the pivotal role women played in that mobilization: “When we were in APC and we wanted to remove your government, you saw what we did. We brought out the women, in every state we went to, women were in front,” he stated.

Call to Action for Ward Mobilization

During his address, Amaechi challenged the women to aim for securing at least 2,000 votes from each ward, asserting that this could significantly contribute to the ADC’s overall electoral success: “If you bring two thousand votes per ward, don’t win your ward. Just bring two thousand votes we have won the election.” He further encouraged participants to engage family members, particularly husbands, in the voting process.

Amaechi announced his commitment to campaigning across Nigeria, making it clear that he intends to be actively involved in pivotal states during the election, asserting, “We will not take any election lightly.”

Critique of Current Economic Policies

Addressing the current state of the economy, Amaechi criticized the administration’s handling of economic issues, emphasizing the rising cost of living and food insecurity faced by ordinary Nigerians. He noted that the number of out-of-school children has surged under the current government, sharply rising to approximately 20 million from 10 to 12 million during his tenure.

“That time, Nigeria was not as hungry as it is now. Nigeria could afford some food, right? Now, how many of you can afford the food?” he posed to the audience, highlighting the urgent need for change.

The Importance of Northern Voters

In his remarks, Amaechi specifically urged northern voters to become actively involved in the impending election, reinforcing that their participation could dramatically sway the results: “If all the women in the north come out to vote, Tinubu cannot announce any result.”

Encouragement from Party Leaders

Hajiya Titi Atiku Abubakar, also speaking at the conference, echoed Amaechi’s sentiments, urging women to strive for the betterment of Nigeria while resisting intimidation. She discussed the current struggles with rising prices for food and medicine, stating, “If you go to the market, you cannot buy anything, even medicine,” and encouraged wider community mobilization, especially in rural areas.

Moving forward, both Amaechi and Atiku Abubakar emphasized the crucial role women will play in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape in the upcoming elections, thereby calling for unity and concerted effort across the party’s ranks.